Chapter 2.
Cate walked in to the bar where she knew she would find Kris, it was a really nice place, and they had all been there in the past for celebrations and for just general socialising. Right now Kris was using it to drown her misery and pain, something Cate understood all too well. She spotted Kris straight away sat at the back corner of the bar in the shadows, head down resting on the palm of her hand propped on the bar. Standing to her full height and taking a long deep breath Cate made her way over to Kris knowing this wasn't going to be easy at all.
'So this is where all the cool kids hang out is it?' Cate quipped as she sat on the stool next to Kris.
'Only when they want to be left alone so they can drink alone.' Kris coldly came back with. This really was going to be hard work Cate realised to herself.
'I see. Drinking alone, never really been your style Kris, want to talk about it?' Cate asked as she turned in her seat facing forward in to the bar getting the barman's attention. 'Coke please.' She ordered with a smile as the barman went to get her the drink looking over to Kris with a worried expression. The people in this bar had gotten to know Kris and the other Angels, probably even Cate but she didn't recognise the young man who was pouring her drink.
'No, I don't want to talk about it.' Kris said after taking a drink.
'You just want to sit here and drown your sorrows.' Cate said giving herself a beat before she really pushed Kris's buttons. 'Kind of pathetic don't you think, turning to the bottle?'
'What, who the hell do you...' Kris began which pleased Cate, she had her hooked.
'Is this how it's going to be Kris, something bad happens and you're going to come down to the nearest bar. You know when you told me about your dad and his drinking habits I always thought you'd strive to never become like him.' That did it and Cate was ready for it as Kris threw herself at Cate sending them both crashing down to the floor Kris's arms flailing around trying to hit Cate as hard as she could which was a pretty impressive hit Cate thought when Kris managed to land one in to Cate's shoulder which probably hurt Kris's hand more than Cate's shoulder but it gave Cate the room to throw Kris off of her and get up. Cate saw the bar men coming towards them but made them stand clear.
'No! Leave us be, I'll handle this.' Cate said just as Kris charged her again throwing them both across one of the thick wooden tables. 'Damn it Kris!' Cate cried as they rolled away from one another.
'Where were you?!' Kris screamed at Cate. 'We needed you and where were you?! Kelly died, Julie nearly died with her, where were you?' Kris kept shouting as she ran again at Cate who caught Kris this time grabbing her hands and twisting Kris in to her so that she had Kris facing away from her but held her tight stopping her from fighting.
'I'm right here Kris.' Cate said softly into Kris's ear. Kris broke down in tears her knees giving way under her with Cate's help she slowly slid down to the ground Cate never letting go but holding her friend as she cried heart breaking tears. 'I'm right here.' Cate repeated holding Kris softly rubbing her back comforting her. The bar men went back to their duties leaving the two women where they were sat on the floor at the back of the room.
Tiffany and Julie walked in to the Townsend Agency office to find Bosley with his head down going through papers, his usual position.
'Hey Bos.' Tiffany said as happily as she could.
'Hi girls, everything go ok?' Bosley asked looking to Julie who sat down on the sofa swinging her legs up by the side of her as she propped her head on her hand looking towards Bosley at his desk.
'Everything was fine Bos.' Tiffany said sitting in the sofa opposite Julie. 'In fact we were surprised when we got there.'
'Really, why?' Bosley asked curious worried where this may lead.
'Nothing to worry about Bos, Cate was there.' Tiffany explained.
'Cate? As in Caitlin Fox, Kelly's sister who I'm meant to be collecting tomorrow morning at the airport?' Bosley asked tapping his pen down on his desk in annoyance on every other word.
'That's the one.' Tiffany happily told Bosley knowing full well it would add to his annoyance.
'Well that's just terrific; you would think she would call to tell me she was catching an earlier flight.'
'Well Charlie did speak with her on the flight home Bos, so he knew.' Julie chipped in.
'Of course he knew and he just forgot to let me know that I wouldn't need to drive through rush hour traffic in the morning to collect someone who won't be there.' Just as Bosley finished complaining the phone rang. 'You know I'd swear that boss of ours has listening devices in here waiting with joy for me to outburst like that so he can call me afterwards.' Bosley grumbled as he picked up the phone. 'Hello Charlie, yes they're here hold on one moment.' Bosley hit the switch on the intercom box turning it to face the Angels as he hung up the phone.
'Good evening Angel's.' Charlie's voice sailed through the box.
'Good evening Charlie.' The Angels replied.
'Julie, how are you feeling today?' Charlie asked first.
'Not too bad Charlie, a little tired now, it's been a long day with a surprise thrown in I wasn't expecting.' Julie said shaking her head slightly.
'Ah, you've both met Caitlin then.' Charlie said the tone in his voice telling them that he should have made them aware and didn't.
'She was at Kelly's grave side when we got there Charlie.' Tiffany explained in her soft voice.
'Yes I imagine she would have been. Where is she now?' Charlie asked.
'She said her next port of call was with Kris.' Julie told Charlie turning herself in the sofa so that her back was resting against the arm of the sofa. 'Cate told us you'd explained what was going on here on her flight over.'
'That I had Angel and Cate is exactly what Kris needs right now.' Charlie said in his matter of fact voice.
'I hope you're right Charlie because if we intend to find out what's going on with Jill and Damien Roth not mention, Kelly then we need a full team.' Tiffany said as she rose to her feet heading towards the bar.
'Have faith Angel with Cate now home with you all, the family will pull back together and we'll find the answers we want.'
'You know Tiff I think we ought to go over to Kris's place see if they're back there yet, Cate might need some help.' Julie suggested.
'Might not be a bad idea, also Cate's going to be feeling jet-lag coming on soon, I don't think she's rested since she arrived back from Europe.' Tiffany agreed.
'All right Angels get yourselves over to Kris's and keep me updated. Take a couple of days off with Cate and help Kris; we'll start work after that.' Charlie ordered.
'Ok Charlie, we'll speak to you soon.' Bosley said as he disconnected the phone. Julie got up from the sofa and joined Tiffany by the door. 'Keep me posted as well you two, let me know if you need me for anything.' Bosley said as the Angels waved to him leaving the office.
'Do you think Cate got through to Kris?' Julie asked Tiffany as they got into the little orange Pinto.
'I hope so Julie I really do. From what I understand of their friendship and how close they are Kris is more likely to listen to her than anyone else right now.' Tiffany explained starting the cars engine.
'You mean us right?' Julie asked, the pair of them had each only worked with Kris a year they were all close but you could always see the closer bond between Kelly and Kris and Jill with the pair of them when she was home.
'Let's just hope she got through to her and that they're at the beach house otherwise we'll be making more excuses as to why we're checking up on Kris again today.' Tiffany unhappily said.
Upon arriving at the beach house they saw both Kris's and Cate's cars parked to the side of the building. Tiffany pulled up by the side of Cate's black Mustang. Getting out of the car Tiffany and Julie made their way up to the house. Using her key Tiffany opened the door so they could enter, the house was quiet they looked through the main room to the kitchen but there were no signs of either one of them. Out of the corner of her eye Julie noticed movement out on the decking, getting Tiffany's attention they both went out on to the deck to find Cate leaning on the railings look out to the sea.
'Hi there.' Tiffany greeted as she stood beside Cate with Julie moving to stand the other side of her.
'Hi.' Cate returned quietly looking and sounding exhausted.
'How'd it go with Kris?' Julie asked jumping straight in with the question on both hers and Tiffany's mind.
'It went as I expected I suppose.' Cate began to explain smiling towards Julie. 'She's in her room asleep, she'll wake up with a terrific hangover but she'll be ok.'
'How about you?' Tiffany asked resting her hand on Cate's shoulder.
'I'm fine.' Cate said brushing the question off looking at both Tiffany and Julie she knew she wasn't going to get away with it. 'Really, I'm fine, tired, but I'm fine.' Cate assured as she walked across to the seats set out on the decking sitting down in the centre seat, Tiffany and Julie followed suit taking the seats either side of her.
'Look, we're here now, why don't you go in to Kris's spare room and get some sleep, you haven't stopped since you got back from Europe, it's no wonder you're tired.' Tiffany suggested. Cate knew she couldn't battle these two and she was exhausted, the scuffle with Kris had used up what remained of her energy.
'Yeah, ok, I am exhausted and not quite on the right time zone yet.' Cate smiled as she got up heading for the door. 'Wake me if you need help with anything, in other words Kris.' Cate said as she went back through the house to the spare room checking in on Kris once more as she went passed her room.
A few hours went by and Cate was up again she walked through the beach house back to the main room which was very quiet, going in to the kitchen she noticed Julie stretched out on Kris's couch fast asleep but Tiffany was nowhere to be seen, opening Kris's fridge Cate pulled out the bottle of orange juice grabbing a clean glass from the cabinet Cate poured herself a drink. Stood leaning over the kitchen counter Cate quietly stared out of the window to the ocean when she heard Julie murmur in her sleep then gasp as she bolted up right from the nightmare she was obviously having. Cate swiftly moved over to her.
'Julie, hey, it's all right you're safe, everything's ok.' Cate said gently sitting by the side of the upset Angel. Julie looked around the room slightly panicked getting her bearings realising where she was.
'Did I wake you?' Julie asked as she found her voice.
'No, you didn't wake me, I was up all ready. You want to talk about it? I hear that doing that helps.' Cate said sitting back in the sofa.
'I was back there.' Julie began.
'Where it happened?' Cate asked knowing the answer, Julie nodded as she continued.
'Yeah, Kelly and I entered in to the shop for this special private viewing before its official opening. We were the only ones there, nothing seemed out of the ordinary and then'
'Then you both started to notice things weren't quite right?' Cate asked.
'Right. The viewing was at night around 8pm, the shop was in a pretty empty area but it was a new fashion store which promised to bring new interest to the area so we didn't see anything wrong with that, but we noticed that the staff that had welcomed us when we walked in had all disappeared, no one to be found. We checked the doors everything locked no way out. Then Kelly found the bomb we both ran as far to the back of the building as we could but it was no use, the last thing I can really remember is grabbing Kelly and throwing us both down behind the wall to the changing rooms. It's all hazy really after that. I know I woke and we were both conscious we both tried so hard to stay awake but I just couldn't do it was too hard.' Julie began to get upset the tears were all ready falling before she even realised it or could stop them. 'I'm so sorry Cate.' Julie said once again.
'Julie you have nothing to apologise to me for. We almost lost you too that day and I'm so pleased we didn't, none of it was your fault and neither one of you could have prevented it from happening.' Cate said placing a hand on Julie's shoulder looking deeply in to her eyes.
'You're so much like Kelly you know.' Julie said smiling through her tears to Cate. Cate looked away from Julie.
'Where'd Tiff go?' Cate asked changing the subject.
'She went to go get some groceries; Kris is a little low on things. Cate, I didn't mean to.' Julie began feeling she had made Cate feel uncomfortable.
'It's all right Julie it's just that I'm really not like my sister.' Cate said with a shrug of the shoulders.
'From what I've seen from the small amount of time I've been around you, you are just like Kelly. You're the first to jump in and help a friend in need putting everyone else first before yourself.'
'Well you're all my family; it's what I do. I think I'm gonna go out for a run.' Cate stated as she looked out of the windows to the beach. As she got up Cate turned back to Julie. 'You know what Julie; I think that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, thank you.' Julie simply smiled as Cate headed back to the spare room to change before heading out to the beach to run.
Julie sat quietly alone in the main sitting room of Kris's beach house reading when Kris slowly walked through in to the room.
'Hi.' Kris tiredly said as she saw Julie who looked up smiling at Kris. 'Where's Cate?' Kris asked looking around the room.
'She's out running and Tiff is still out picking up some groceries, she should be on her way back by now. How you feeling?' Julie asked motioning for Kris to sit next to her, which she did.
'Honestly, I'm feeling ashamed, stupid and sorry. I'm so sorry Julie, I've acted terribly towards both you and Tiffany when you needed me most.' Kris sat looking with tears forming in her eyes down at her hands and then to Julie who sat quietly listening to her friend before she moved closer to her wrapping her arms around Kris in a tight embrace. Breaking the embrace Julie wiped the tears from her own eyes as she spoke.
'We really have to stop all this crying you know, it does nothing for my make-up and I can't keep buying more.' Kris and Julie both shared a small laugh at this. 'Look Kris, it's ok, really, I understand I really do but you know that self destruction won't solve anything right?' Kris nodded wiping her eyes again.
'I know Julie I just felt so… lost.' Kris said after taking a deep breath. 'Everything bad just seemed to happen at once.'
'Well they do say it comes in three's' Tiffany's voice said as she came in to the room through the back door. 'Hi.' Tiffany smiled to her friends as she brought the food bags in taking them to the kitchen Julie and Kris getting up to help her.
'Tiff.' Kris quietly said getting her attention; Tiff turned looking down at the shorter Angel when Kris threw her arms around the elegant Angel tears again falling from her eyes. 'I'm so sorry, I really am.'
'It's ok Kris, I'm just glad you're here now with us. How's your head?' Tiffany asked with a sympathetic smile.
'Pounding, but it's no more than I deserve.' Kris said taking some of the groceries and putting them away.
'A hot shower, some pain killers and then surfing should clear that right up.' Cate said as she entered back in to the house slightly breathless. 'But I get to shower first.'
'It's my house.' Kris joked crossing her arms across her chest.
'Yeah well I'm your house guest so be a good host and wait until I'm done short stack.' Cate teased throwing her sweat shirt at Kris as she passed her. 'Take some aspirin!' Cate called back as she went in to the bathroom turning on the shower. Tiffany and Julie stood in stunned silence watching Kris for her reaction.
'Well I guess I'd better take some aspirin whilst I wait for my own shower.' Kris smiled putting Cate's sweat shirt on one of the kitchen stools. Noticing her friends stunned faces Kris couldn't help but laugh. 'It's all right you two, you'll get used to our ways.' Kris explained as she got herself a glass of water to go with her pain killers.
'You two are always like that?' Tiffany asked still astonished as she put the last of the groceries away.
'Pretty much always have been.' Kris said taking the pills as she turned to head in to the main room with Julie and Tiffany close behind her.
'You always have been?' Julie repeated.
'Yep. Look, guys Cate and I have the kind of friendship where we drive each other insane not just plain crazy but insane, the last time we got to spend any quality time together we played pranks on each other constantly whilst driving cross country but we always have each other's back, even if I forget that sometimes.' Kris stopped for a moment flashing back to the fight she had with Cate the night before the screaming. 'We're family.'