Chapter 5.

'Morning.' Sabrina said to Kelly from over the top of the newspaper she was reading in the kitchen.

'Morning.' Kelly returned heading straight for the coffee pot.

'Get any sleep last night?' Sabrina asked her friend concerned at how unsettled she looked.

'Some, to be honest I was too worried about Cate to get any real sleep.'

'Yeah, I thought that might be the case.'

'Have you seen her this morning yet? She wasn't in her room.'

'She's out there on the patio. She looked a little pre-occupied so I thought it best to leave her be.' Sabrina explained looking out of the kitchen window with Kelly. Caitlin was sat on the patio her arms rested across her knees as she looked out in to the garden. 'I don't think she actually went to bed last night.' Sabrina said as she returned to her seat and paper. Kelly drank her coffee still watching over her sister.

'Morning is there coffee left in the pot?' Kris asked chirpily as she entered the kitchen. Kelly turned to her young friend smiling and poured her a cup of coffee.

'Why don't you take some out to Cate, Kel?' Sabrina suggested.

'She's trying to cut down on her coffee intake.' Kelly said as she moved to the fridge. Opening it she took the orange juice from it, lifting a glass from the draining board next to the sink she poured the juice in to it. Smiling at both Kris and Sabrina she headed out to Cate.

Kris sat down opposite Sabrina taking the sports section of the paper.

'Did you sleep at all last night?' Sabrina asked Kris not looking up from her paper.

'Not too bad considering, I just couldn't get out of my mind how long it took for the police to leave here last night.' Kris answered folding out the sports pages.

'I noticed the windows were boarded and glass cleared up.'

'I don't think the police did that though. They didn't seem altogether bothered by what had happened here any way, you'd think it was something that happened often in the area the way they treated it. How's Cate this morning?' Kris said trying to calm her self by changing the subject slightly the visit from the police the previous night had really riled her feathers.

'I'm not too sure to be honest.' Sabrina said turning to look towards the window that looked out to the back yard before turning to look at Kris. 'She was out there when I got up this morning, I explained to Kel that I thought it best to leave her be, she looked a little pre-occupied.' Both Angel's looked to one another raising their eye brows to each both sharing concern for the new friend.

'Morning.' Kelly said quietly as she approached her sister.

'Morning, thanks.' Cate said as she took the glass of juice Kelly had brought out for her.

'Did you sleep at all last night?' Kelly asked brushing back Cate's hair back across her shoulders.

'Well, after Scotty, Danny and I saw the police off we put the boards up on the window and cleared up the glass. It then took me another few hours to talk mom and Danny in to sending them to L.A. by the end of all of that I called Charlie then made sure everything was settled and everyone was asleep by then it was around 4am so I decided I might as well watch the sunrise as I'll be driving mom, Tessa and Rebecca to the airport to catch the earliest flight to L.A.'

'All in one night, you were pretty busy. Why don't you let me take them to the air port and you get some sleep.' Kelly suggested. Cate turned to her older sister smiling.

'Thanks but I'm already up and awake and I said I'd take them. Danny will be with me and I'm hoping I can talk him in to leaving as well. I'm really hoping the big puppy dog eyes Rebecca can put on will work in swaying him to go.'

'Devious, think she can pull it off.' Kelly asked smirking.

'Oh yeah, she has learned from the best.' Cate chuckled lightly as she spoke. Getting up from where she sat Cate turned offering Kelly a hand in getting up as they both headed back in to the house. Cate waved to the other Angel's in the kitchen as she continued through the house to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.

'She OK?' Kris asked from her seat opposite Sabrina still nursing her cup of coffee.

'She will be.' Kelly began as she sat with her friends. Sabrina poured her some fresh coffee in to Kelly's cup for her. 'She hasn't slept all night but has managed to arrange for Bette, Tessa and Rebecca to go to L.A. and stay there under Bosley's watchful eyes, boarded up the front window with her brothers, updated Charlie, checked on the household whilst we slept.' Kelly finished as she leaned back in her seat.

'Pretty busy then.' Sabrina commented topping up her own coffee.

'Yeah, she's driving them to the airport soon once they're all up and ready, Cate's hoping she can persuade Danny to go with them as well.'

'That's a task and half I should think.' Sabrina said raising her eyebrows whilst tapping the rim of her coffee mug with her fingertips.

'Rebecca is the key to it apparently. Her and her puppy dog eyes in any case.'

'Works every time.' Kris chimed in smiling slightly 'It's how I got around Jill for so many years when growing up together.'

'I'll bet.' Kelly teased. 'I think Cate wants as much of the family out of harms way as possible.'

'Not surprising really, we don't want Danny or any of the family playing the hero card, we have enough of that between us.'

'Except we're trained at it and insured.' Kelly joked trying to raise her own spirits.

'Plus we get hazard pay.' Kris added with a wink. The Angel's broke in to laughter as Bette walked in to the kitchen.

'Well good morning ladies, y'all sound cheery this morning.' Bette said as she moved to the fridge.

'Morning Bette, oh, we didn't disturb you did we?' Kelly asked concerned, as they had gotten a little louder with their laughing.

'Goodness no, I've been up a while now, just getting myself prepared for the day is all. Now who wants pancakes for breakfast?' Hands shot up from around the table Bette smiled and began making the mix. 'Pancakes all round then.'

As Bette began to pass out pancakes to the Angel's Tessa and Rebecca entered in to the kitchen smiles and good mornings were shared around the room. Rebecca rushed to the empty seat next to Kelly who placed a couple of pancakes on to a plate for the youngster. Tessa poured herself some coffee before joining the rest at the table.

'Do you know if Cate's finished in the bathroom?' Kelly asked Tessa

'I think so. I saw her heading in to her room from the bathroom.' Tessa said placing some pancakes on to her own plate. Kelly excused herself from the kitchen table making her way through the house up to Cate's room. Kelly lightly knocked on Cate's bedroom door.

'Cate, is it all right for me to come in?' Kelly asked waiting patiently for an answer.

'Yeah sure Kel, I'm decent.' Kelly entered the room to find Cate half dressed in her jeans and bra about to put on her shirt. It was then Kelly saw them, the scars on Cate's back. It shocked her that there seemed to be so many, Kelly knew that Cate's upbringing with the different foster families she was placed with was difficult and abusive but not to this extent.

'It's all right Kel, it really does look worse than it is.' Cate said to her sister noticing her shocked expression reflected in the long mirror in front of her.

'I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare it's just… How could they do this to you?' Kelly said moving forward behind Cate placing her hand across the large scar that crossed the top of Cate's spine between her shoulder blades.

'I'm afraid they just did it. They're not all from the same person at least I don't think they are a couple might be? Mostly they were drunk or didn't like the way I looked at them, spoke to them or just breathed. None of the people who did this got away with it though, they all ended up in trouble with child services and the police. I try not to think about it, I know the scars are there but they're a part of me now, I may not like them but they certainly helped shape the person I am today.' Cate explained. Kelly stood listening to her little sister still horrified but what she was seeing and hearing, her eyes began to well as she lowered her head and turned away from Cate who had put on and fastened her shirt. 'Hey, come on now, there's no need to be so upset by it. It happened so long ago Kelly it really is the past and us now are the present and future with mom and the family downstairs too. Speaking of we'd better join them and get mom and the others ready to catch their flight.' Cate said as she began to move for the bedroom door.

'I'll be right down, just need to freshen up a little.' Cate turned to look at Kelly who was stood with her back to her, her arms wrapped around her self. Cate went to her big sister and pulled her in to comforting hug.

'Just know this' Cate said holding Kelly at arms length looking her in the eyes 'I am happier now than I have ever been before, you've filled the void that was missing in me. The past is the past and yes it leaves scars but that's all they are, I wear them not the other way round, OK?' Cate finished looking deeply in to Kelly's eyes for some kind of answer. Kelly smiled and wiped away the tears that had fallen on to her cheeks.

'Ok.' She said

'Good. Now I'm gonna go down and see how they're all getting on, you join us when you're ready to.' Kelly nodded in agreement as Cate left the room.

'Morning everyone.' Cate said happily as she entered in to the kitchen.

'Aunt Cate! Grandma made pancakes, come have some with me, please!' Rebecca begged.

'Pancakes, really? Well in that case make me a stack Becca.' Cate cheerily said as she went over to kiss Bette good morning and grab another glass of OJ. Kelly re-entered the room just as Cate lifted Rebecca out of her seat and sat herself down in her seat, putting Rebecca on her lap. The sight brought an over whelming warmth to Kelly who had to leave the room again before her emotions over took her. Sabrina and Kris both noticed this and followed her out to the back yard.

'Hey Kel, everything OK?' Sabrina asked concerned about her friend 'You look pretty shaken up there.' Sabrina noted.

'Is everything ok between you and Cate?' Kris asked, like Sabrina she was very concerned. The look Kelly had in her eyes seemed so sad. The Angel's all sat at the patio table.

'Everything's fine between us Kris, really.' Kelly said emphasising the point as both of her friends looked unsure in her answer. 'It's just.' Kelly began before lowering her head and taking a deep breath.

'Hey, Kel, what is it. Do you want me to fetch Cate?' Kris offered. Kelly placed a hand over Kris's to stop her from getting up.

'No, no don't. Leave her be with her family.'

'You are her family honey.' Kris said placing her hand on top of Kelly's reassuringly.

'And you don't know how much I wish I was with her in the years she was growing up, that way I may have been able to protect her.' Kelly said as she looked at both of her friends.

'Protect her. Kelly what are you talking about, what's happened?' Sabrina confused asked.

'When I went up to check on Cate I saw the real scars of her childhood.' Kelly began to explain.

'The real scars?' Sabrina echoed still not really understanding.

'On her back, she has scars across her back from where she was beaten as a child. I knew she had a terrible time growing up in foster care but she had never told me to what extent. They're so fierce the scars so full of anger, what makes a person do that to a child?' Kelly said as she sat back in her seat.

'What did Cate tell you about them?' Sabrina asked.

'She said they were from the past, that she doesn't think of them they are just a part of her now. She wears the scars not the other way round.' Kelly recanted.

'Sounds like she's moved on from what had been done to her, like she said Kel it's in the past, as much as we may want to we can't change it' Sabrina explained trying to help Kelly come to terms with it.

'You're not blaming yourself in some way are you Kel?' Kris asked the notion dawning on her. Kelly turned away from her friends. 'Kelly, you can't blame yourself, you didn't even know Cate existed back then you were having your own experiences growing up and they weren't great either from what you've told us.'

'I know this Kris I do, but it doesn't change the feelings I have.' Kelly said a fierce look in her eyes.

'How do you feel about it?' Sabrina asked

'Angry, upset, sad, angry again and guilty. I can't explain or understand why but I do feel guilt over it. I'm older, I'm meant to protect Cate at any cost!' Kelly said tightening her hands in to fists.

'You couldn't protect what you didn't know about Kel. The important thing is that you have Cate now and that she's safe and well and with you, that's all that really matters. The present and the future you two have now as a family.' Sabrina explained in her best logical reasoning. Kelly smiled and began to chuckle slightly.

'You know that's pretty much exactly what Cate said.' Kelly said.

'Well, she's right. Come on now, shake this off and lets get on with the task at hand.' Sabrina said a broad reassuring smile across her face that Kris mirrored only adding a wink as well.

'Ok, but do me a favour, don't let on to Cate that we've spoken. I don't want her worrying about me as well as everything else she's got on her mind right now.'

'I don't think I've ever seen Cate so vulnerable before either.' Kris added.

'That's what family does to you. Sabrina said smiling as she did.

'Yeah, I guess so. Look at me and Jill.' Kris commented thinking how vulnerable both of them are when either one of them is in trouble.

'There's no place like home.' Kelly agreed just as Cate stepped out on to the patio.

'Hey Angel's I'm leaving now for the airport shouldn't ore than a couple of hours, think you can entertain yourselves for that long?' Cate teased as Rebecca rushed passed her, her arms open wide heading straight for Kelly.

'Bye aunt Kelly!' She said giving the Angel a big hug the sight Kris and Sabrina coo.

'Come on Rebecca, we need to get you in the car!' Tessa called from inside the house. Rebecca released herself from Kelly, waved to the other Angel's as she went in to her mother.

'So cute.' Kris said smiling to her friends.

'Are you sure you want to go on your own?' Kelly asked her sister 'I can still go with you.'

'I'll be fine Kelly, really you stay here and see what you can all find out about last night and Bobby's situation, we've still got a case to begin.' Cate smiled and waved to her friends as she turned back in to the house to leave.

'Well she's right we do have a case to begin. So where shall we start?' Kris asked looking to her fellow detectives.