Hey everone! Hope y'all are enjoying this?! So here we are all ready the next chapter and i'm all ready planning the next!

Small time jump here and I think a fair few of you are going to be happy with me then cursing me. ;-) You'll see what I mean. R&R please!

Enjoy! AJ5.x

Chapter. 9

A week had passed since the first fight at D24 and so far Cate hadn't lost once out of the four fights she had been entered into. Tonight was looking to be the same as well as Cate was in the thick of her fifth fight which, if she won would mean a meeting with the big boss and entrance to the higher games which was good news for Roth being that he would gain more control of the arena having the top fighter, if she won the Boss's fight.

'How's she doing?' Marcus asked returning to his seat after dashing to his car for some supplies he'd forgotten.

'She's doing the usual kicking some serious butt.' Julie said not taking her eyes off of her friend for a second. In the ring Cate was doing her best to keep up and ahead of her opponent a young spry man named Viper who seemed to be expert in martial arts, he had quick hands Cate realised as she took swift punches to her side but then he slipped himself giving Cate the opportunity she was looking for as she swiftly moved in throwing her own swift punches to his upper body and then around the head dazing him as she kicked him in the stomach, as he doubled over Cate brought her elbow down onto his back sending crashing to the floor. As Cate moved away from Viper giving him some room to breathe and space for herself to react should he attack she didn't notice him pull a small blade out from the wrappings on his hand. Placing the blade so that it lay to the side of his right hand resting along the outside of his little finger he slowly got back to his feet keeping his right hand lower and to his side, the blade facing into his leg so that it could not be seen, quickly he moved in for another attack. Cate blocked and threw her own punches when Viper thrust his right hand toward her left side making contact with the blade slicing straight through the sports vest t-shirt she was wearing. Cate jumped back startled by the pain but knowing he had cut her as she instinctively put her hand to her side pulling it away again she saw the blood at the same time she saw Viper and his foot coming flying towards her moving out of his path he only managed to clip her shoulder which with the off balance from the knife wound sent her crashing to the ground. Seeing the blood on Cate's hand then her side Julie jumped to her feet calling for attention to the fact that this Viper guy had a weapon, she needn't have bothered though as Cate was able to handle him.

Viper came at Cate again to use the blade, Cate caught his hand as it came towards her with her right hand then with her left hand open slammed it into his elbow with such force that something snapped as the joint was forced in a direction it should not have gone. Viper cried out in pain whilst Cate followed it up with another swift and hard punch to his head knocking him out cold to the floor, the fight was ended naming Cate the winner as she stumbled back against the rope using it for support and Viper and his 'manager' disqualified from all fighting engagements and expelled from the club. Marcus ran into the ring grabbing Cate who practically fell into his grasp.

'That hurt like hell.' She quipped as Marcus helped her down leading her straight away from the ring to the private dressing room she now had. Getting her to lie on exam table in the room Marcus pulled back the t-shirt to take a proper look at the wound, Cate clenched her teeth in pain as Marcus began to clean the wound when Julie burst through into the room.

'Are you all right?' Julie questioned straight away grabbing Cate's hand which Cate squeezed as Marcus cleaned more blood away.

'Just peachy.' Cate grimaced.

'How the hell did he manage to slip in a blade?' Julie furiously questioned.

'It was so small Julie he must have had it hidden in his hand wrappings.' Cate explained before crying out in pain.

'Sorry.' Marcus sympathetically said looking over to Cate. 'You're gonna need stitches kiddo.'

'Terrific.' Cate said through gritted teeth when Roth burst through the doors.

'Are you all right? That was a fantastic fight to see Cate, you were magnificent!' Roth enthused as Marcus continued tending to her wound.

'Glad you enjoyed it.' Cate said trying to concentrate on anything that wasn't the pain of Marcus patching her up.

'Ms Fox.' A tall bulky man said as he entered the dressing room. 'Boss D would like to meet with you.'

'Terrific, this is it Cate, well done now we can really take charge. Tell us where good man and we shall be there.' Roth said showing a little more excitement than Julie could stomach.

'Not you Roth, just her, Boss D has no need to see you, just your fighter.' The man explained.

'Very well, of course.' Roth calmed himself straightening his suit and slicking down his all ready perfect hair. 'Cate go to the meeting and we will catch up again later, get yourself taken care of, Marcus, see to it.' Roth ordered. Marcus was about to respond when he thought better of it and kept his mind on Cate.

'Boss D wants to see you now.' The man said.

'This Boss can't wait until Cate's fixed up?' Marcus asked concerned.

'No.' The man flatly said.

'Marcus just clean and cover it for now, we'll do the rest when I get back.' Marcus was about to protest when he saw the look in Cate's eyes and decided better of it.

'All right, as soon as you're done we stitch this and you get some rest. Doctors orders.'

'Fine just patch me for now.' Cate said trying to smile through the pain. Marcus did as he was asked, once patched up Cate slowly got up to a sitting position placing her hand across the bandaging taking a few deep breathes before she moved again.

'You sure you should be doing this alone?' Julie asked quietly.

'I don't have a lot of choice right now. Don't worry I'll be fine.' Cate smiled as she got down from the exam table with Marcus and Julie by her side steadying her. 'Ok big man, lead on.' Cate said raising her hand to the Boss's messenger who turned and lead the way out of the dressing room. He led her up a set of stairs, which were not easy to climb when you had just had your rib cage slit. They came to two large black doors which he opened for them stepping into the room the man pointed to the black leather sofas and armchairs in the centre of the room.

'Wait over there Boss D will be with you shortly, try not to bleed on the furniture.' The man said as he turned and left the room closing the doors behind him. Cate walked slowly to the sofas then to the blacked out windows that looked down onto the ring where people were still exiting from after the last fight, her fight.

'Are you trying to get yourself killed out there?' A voice came from behind Cate, without turning to face the voice she responded.

'You're one to talk aren't you, sis?'

'Don't start with me Caitlin.' Kelly said back as she moved closer to Cate.

'Are we even safe to talk in this room?' Cate asked spinning round to her sister which after she'd done wished she hadn't as the quick movement sent pain shooting through her, gasping and leaning forward Cate grabbed the back of the leather armchair for support. Kelly was by her side in an instant.

'Come over here and sit down before you fall down.' Kelly ordered gently but forcefully pulling Cate towards the sofa. 'And yes we're safe to talk here.'

'Where's the coin?' Cate asked. The coin being the marker she would need to enter the final fight to gain control for Roth of the entire fighting enterprise.

'Can't we at least have some form of conversation before all of that?' Kelly asked annoyed with Cate's attitude towards her.

'What would you like to talk about Kelly, the weather, Europe, how the world is treating me, Kris, Julie, the team how about just the case?'

'Being angry with me won't solve anything Cate.'

'No of course not why should I be angry with you anyway right?' Cate said moving away from Kelly on the sofa putting as much space between them as she could manage keeping her right hand pressed against her side.

'Are you in a lot of pain?' Kelly asked with concern looking at Cate's blood soaked t-shirt and stained hand. Cate could only laugh slightly to herself and role her eyes at her sister. 'Cate please, I'm at least trying.'

'What's the latest you've found out?' Cate asked putting the conversation back to business. Kelly defeated sighed as she began to speak.

'Not a great deal we're still having trouble connecting Roth with Diane properly, the only connection we have is Duncan Benett who was one of her Hench men. We just can't find her, I don't think they are actually working together, there's something else going on.'

'She's playing us then.' Cate surmised.

'I think so as does Charlie, Roth is just a distraction from whatever she's really up to, we may get Roth back behind bars but I don't believe it will get us any closer to Diane.'

'That's just great; I'm so pleased we've figured that out now.' Cate sarcastically laughed.

'We weren't to know Cate, the evidence and leads lead us straight to Roth.'

'And we fell for it straight away, or rather you Charlie and Jill did leaving the rest of us out of it. Just letting us struggle along without you.'

'Cate, it is still the best way to handle all of this.' Kelly determinedly said as she got up to her feet swiftly walking to the windows looking out over the floor below.

'Says you.' Cate came back with.

'You agreed Cate, you agreed to do this so please don't give me this crap!' Kelly sharply shouted back to her sister.

'I had no choice but to agree Kelly, you and Charlie had all ready decided that I would do this without including me in the first ring of conversations. You even had Jill on board to do it siding with you that this was the way we should take this case.'

'You had a choice Cate, we all had a choice.' Kelly came back with coldly.

'Sure we have a choice so long as it's the one that you want. Don't speak to me like I had a choice because you know that's crap, the three of you knew I wouldn't have any of the others do what I'm doing out there. Julie was in no fit state, neither is Kris. Bosley wouldn't have survived what happens in that ring and neither would Tiff. By the way Julie's doing fine, she blames herself pretty much every other hour for your 'death' but aside from that she's doing just great.' Cate's voice began to get louder and angrier as she and her sister continued to argue. Cate now stood in front of the sofa at a stand off with her sister.

'I checked in on Julie every moment I could.'

'And I'm sure she really appreciates that. Oh no, wait, how can she, she thinks your dead!' Cate yelled.

'Why must you be this way, what could I have done Cate, what would have made this all better?' Kelly argued back moving closer to Cate standing in front of her.

'I don't know how to solve this Kelly but then I'm not hiding behind a fake gravestone am I?!' Cate snapped at her sister who in return slapped her younger sister across the face, regretting it as soon as she had.

'Caitlin, God Cate I'm sorry I shouldn't have.' Cate turned to look at her sister with a hard look as if she wasn't surprised by Kelly's physical reaction.

'I have to go.' Cate simply said still keeping her eyes locked with Kelly's whose eyes had grown so wide after realising what she had done

'Caitlin please don't go, not yet.' Kelly called after her little sister who didn't turn back as she left the office the door closing behind her as Kelly sank down into the armchair by the side of her holding her head in her hands.

Cate walked back into the dressing room where Julie was pacing and Marcus sat waiting as patiently as possible.

'Hey guys.' Cate said as she walked in, Julie was first to be by her side.

'Are you all right?' She asked helping Cate back to the exam table.

'Yeah, exhausted and in pain but fine. I got the marker coin for the final battle.' Cate said flicking it to Julie.

'Good then maybe you can stop this foolishness.' Marcus said as he had Cate lay on her side so he could finally tend to her wound properly.

'That's the idea.' Cate winced as she tried to joke.

'Cate I don't see how you're gonna be fit enough to fight the next fight with your side all stitched up like that.' Julie said looking over at Marcus as he began to stitch Cate's knife wound.

'I'll be ready Marcus always stitches me up tight knowing the scrapes I get myself into don't worry so much Julie, you worry far too much.' Cate smiled a reassuring smile to her friend.

'With good reason.' Marcus commented from behind Cate as he sewed.

'Quiet you, just sew.' Cate quipped.

'So, what was this Boss D like?' Julie asked. Cate thought for a moment before she answered

'Same as all the others, hard, all about business and nothing much else.' Cate said as she gazed off into space not looking at Julie as she spoke thinking about her sister.

'All right all done.' Marcus announced as he taped down the bandages around Cates rib cage. 'Just take things a little easy at least for the next day or two.' Marcus pleaded as Julie helped Cate down from the table.

'A couple of days are all I have Marcus then back to it.' Cate smiled tiredly as Julie grabbed their bags and headed out of the dressing room Cate by her side and Marcus not far behind.

'Come on let's get home, you need to sleep.' Julie ordered.

'No argument here.' Cate quipped. Within no time it seemed they arrived back at Cate's home, it being so late Marcus took up the offer of the free couch for the night to sleep on. He wanted to be near Cate anyway in case anything happened.

'I'm gonna wash up and get myself to bed.' Cate said as she dumped her bag on one of the dining chairs in her lounge.

'Don't get the bandages wet.' Marcus called after as Julie went to the linen closet grabbing Marcus blankets and pillows for the couch.

'Is Cate going to be able to get through the rest of this Marcus?' Julie asked as she and Marcus made up the couch. Marcus could see the worry and concern in Julie's face.

'She'll get through it Julie, Cate always does, she's tough.'

'What kind of condition is she going to be in at the end of it all though? Look at tonight, that guy managed to slip a blade into the fight and from what I hear of the final ring it's enclosed. Only people in the box seating can watch the fight it's for the high rollers only. So far the champ has been undefeated.' Julie unhappily explained as she sank into the armchair by the side of the sofa, which Marcus sat on listening to Julie.

'Just have faith Julie. You're all Angels after all.'

'Doesn't shield us from getting hurt or killed though Marcus.' Julie solemnly said as she sat back in the armchair putting her feet up on the edge of the coffee table. 'I'm just scared. We still can't find this Diane Matisse or a real hard connection between her and Roth, which means we still can't bring Jill out of his circle. Nothing seems to be going right Marcus and I have such an uneasy feeling that we're missing something and that something is what's going to kill someone.'

'Don't be too negative about it all Julie.' Cate teased, Julie and Marcus turned to see her leaning against the wall.

'I'm not kidding around here Cate we're missing something.' Julie said seriously as Cate crossed the room and slowly sat opposite Julie.

'I know we are and I think it's as we originally thought, Roth is just a small player and Diane is playing with us before she really makes a move against us, well another one anyway. The leads Charlie may have had linking Roth to the explosion that killed Kelly are just a ruse to get us back after him that was setup by Diane we know she's an expert with explosives.'

'But there were no signature signs of her work, at least that's what I'm told by Tiff and Kris.'

'But who's to say she didn't change her style for that exact reason just to play us along and keep us on Roth's tail.'

'You think she's trying to take you all out one by one?' Marcus asked not liking this discussion at all.

'Yeah and the worst part is that we have no idea where she is, who's really working for her or when she'll attack us next. But then that's typical Diane by all accounts, she likes to play with her pray break it down in anyway possible making it weaker then attacking hard.'

'We have to find her and fast.' Julie decided.

'We will but right now I'm going to sleep.' Cate smiled as she stretched her hands out looking over the damage that was been done to them especially her knuckles, they were getting pretty roughed up.

'Come on,' Julie said to Cate as she got up from her seat 'you get into bed and I'll take a look at those hands of yours for you.' Cate smiled with appreciation as she headed out of the lounge to her bedroom saying goodnight to Marcus on the way passed him patting him on the head as she did. Cate gingerly laid herself back into bed with Julie throwing her covers over her, then after pulling the seat that was in Cate's room closer to the side of Cate's bed took Cate's hands and tenderly began to place compresses over them to bring down some of the swelling to then follow that by rubbing the ointment onto them that Marcus had given her. 'You're quiet.' Julie said as she concentrated on Cate's hands.

'Just a lot on my mind is all Julie.'

'Want to talk about it?'

'No but I'd like all the thoughts to quieten down so I can just sleep. I just worry where this will all end.' Cate sighed.

'You worried?' Julie teased a small smile beginning to creep across her lips.

'Yeah ok, I know, the one who always tells you not to worry is worried herself.' Cate smiled laughing a little trying not to upset her side too much as the pain had settled there for now it would seem. 'Believe it or not Julie, I'm scared too.'

'I was beginning to wonder. You may talk a big game Fox but…'

'But you see right through it.' Cate smiled to Julie. 'Yeah I know.' Cate said slowly as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep while Julie continued to tend to her friends hands. Julie was about to begin applying the ointment to Cate's hands when Kris quietly walked into the room.

'Hi.' Julie said in a tone just above a whisper giving Kris a warm smile as she did. 'What are you doing here?'

'We heard about what happened tonight, Charlie called and told us, I came straight here as soon as I could. How's she doing?' Kris asked sitting on the arm of the chair Julie was sat in looking over Cate who looked as though she been through hell and back. Julie sighed deeply as she sat back in the seat.

'Well Marcus has stitched up where that guy Viper cut her, God Kris if you had been there to see it happen.'

'What did happen Julie?'

'Cate knocked him down and somehow he managed to pull a blade most likely from his hand wrappings, it was a slither of a blade but more than affective. He attacked Cate which she handled fine and then she just couldn't block or dodge the hit he sent to her side and that was it. Cate jumped back startled and that's when I saw the blood. Man she bled a lot! But she managed to carry on and knock him down. That was when the MC jumped in and ended the fight they disqualified Viper and his manager, like that means much, Marcus jumped in the ring to take Cate and before he could even patch her up properly she was whisked away to meet with the big boss and collect the marker for the final.' Julie finished explaining taking the coin from her pocket and handing it to Kris also removing Cate's pendant at the same time holding it in her hand.

'Cate's pendant.' Kris smiled as she saw it.

'Yeah, Cate asked me to hold on to it so that it wasn't broken in the ring. She asked me to pass it on to you should anything happen to her.' Julie smiled to Kris as she handed her the pendant. Kris looked down at the necklace smiling tears forming.

'Did she tell you where she got it from?' Kris asked smiling to Julie her eyes glistening.

'Kelly gave it to her.' Julie said wiping the tear away that begun to fall down Kris's cheek.

'We'd just finished another case which was actually meant to have been a vacation for Kelly and Cate, Kelly was meeting Cate's family for the first time and well things did not go to plan and it was hard on her. Once it was over Cate took off for a while.'

'That must have pleased Kelly.' Julie quipped sarcastically.

'She understood but just to be on the safe side Kelly sent my big sister after Cate, with this pendant, to watch over her.'

'How did that all turn out?' Julie wondered.

'Ok, Cate and Jill were running the Cannonball Run so they were having a blast and then things took a turn for the unexpected as usual and Kelly and I joined in on the fun as well.'

'Was it fun?'

'Actually yeah, it was. A lot of fun.' Kris smiled remembering the time and squeezing the pendant in her hand. 'What are you doing any way?' Kris asked changing the subject slightly.

'Just taking care of Cate's hands, they're getting pretty thrashed with all of this and she won't cover them when she fights, just refuses. Something about the extra weight on her hands or whatever in any case it's doing her no favours.' Julie said gently picking up one of Cate's hands turning it slightly to show Kris as Cate continued to sleep soundly.

'She'll sleep through anything.' Kris joked watching Cate, as she didn't even stir. 'What did Cate say about the big boss anyway?'

'Boss D, not much to be honest, I don't know there was something, no never mind.' Julie began stopping her thoughts that had been bothering her.

'What is it Julie?' Kris asked turning to look at Julie.

'I don't know it's probably nothing.'

'Which means it's probably something. What is it?'

'It's just when I asked Cate what this Boss D was like she seemed real distant about him, like there was a lot more to it.'

'You think Cate is hiding something?'

'I don't know Kris but something about it just didn't sit right with me afterwards. Maybe you should talk to her about, I've not known Cate as long so maybe I'm just getting my wires crossed or something.' Julie suggested as she picked up the small jar of ointment for Cate's hands.

'Why don't you let me do this and you get yourself some sleep, you look as exhausted as Cate does. I'll stay with her, you go on.' Kris smiled taking the jar from Julie's hands.

'Well I can't argue with that just call me if you or Cate needs anything.' Julie said as she stood up.

'Don't worry we'll be fine.' Kris smiled.

'You two have a habit of saying that.' Julie said shaking her head as she left the room. Kris laughed a little to herself at that as she sat in the seat taking Cate's hand beginning to tend to it. Once done Kris sat back in the seat mulling over all of what they now knew and what Julie had told her this evening. Kris knew Cate and knew she was holding back something but what? Kris rested her head back into the high backed seat and closed her eyes.

'Kelly.' Kris heard Cate call out before she suddenly woke up. Kris noticed that it was morning with the sunlight coming in through the window as she moved to sit by Cate's side on the bed.

'It's all right Cate, you're safe at home.' Kris explained quickly making sure that her friend didn't rush to sit up pulling or ripping her stitches. Cate took a deep breath raising her hands to her face rubbing the sleep away from her eyes.

'I didn't mean to wake you Kris sorry. Wait, what are you even doing here?' Cate asked surprised and confused at the same time. Kris smirked at her friend tilting her head to one side. 'I didn't mean that to sound the way it did.' Cate laughed.

'I know,' Kris laughed moving back to the seat by the side of Cate's bed. 'How are you feeling?'

'Soar, achy otherwise fine, hungry actually.'

'You spent far too long with Jill.' Kris teased rolling her eyes. 'Look why don't we go and get breakfast at our favourite old diner.' Kris suggested.

'Sounds like a good idea to me but then should we really be seen out together in the midst of this case?'

'Cate, you're in the final and Roth's condo is on the other side of town. Get washed up and dressed, I'm buying.' Kris ordered.

'Well since you put it that way.' Cate laughed tossing aside her covers and carefully getting up holding her side as she did.

'The fact that I'm buying was the clincher wasn't it?' Kris asked as Cate gathered up clothes.

'Pretty much yeah, you could have just said you're buying and that would have ended the discussion.' Cate joked as she walked into the bathroom. The rest of the house stayed quiet, as Kris and Cate got ready to go out. Kris wrote a note for Julie and Marcus to let them know where they were so they wouldn't worry. Cate tapped Kris's arm as she passed her in the kitchen opening the side door to leave out of so not to disturb Marcus who slept soundly on the couch still.

'Anything new on yours and Tiff's end of the case?' Cate asked as they got out of Kris's car walking down the sidewalk towards their diner of choice for breakfast.

'Not yet, we just can't find anything on Diane's recent activities at least we got the high security prison to admit that she had escaped.'

'Good of them to let us know that to begin with.' Cate said shaking her head annoyed.

'I know, it's like we said last week, once I came across the file I just knew it was her, knew it and now who knows where she is!' Kris exclaimed as they continued walking. Cate looked at the store fascia's as they continued down the street.

'Are you sure the diner is still here?' Cate asked, Kris laughing turned to her friend before turning back to the storefronts and pointing down the street.

'I know you haven't been there in a couple of years but I have, it's still where it's always been just down…' Kris stopped mid sentence stumbling back into Cate.

'Hey, easy there short stack I'm not at my best to catch your clumsy self.' Kris fell into Cate's arms not responding. 'Kris?' Cate called her friends name starting to worry lowering down to the ground kneeling Cate held on to Kris taking her down with her, laying Kris on her back resting her on her lap Cate shockingly saw what was wrong, blood was freely flowing from a bullet wound to Kris's chest. 'Kris!' Kris's eyes were open but barely focusing on anything, Cate swiftly threw her hand over Kris's wound applying pressure-causing Kris to moan in pain. At least she was responding Cate thought to herself. 'Kris, come on stay awake I'm gonna get us some help.' Cate said with no response from Kris apart from her moans and gasps of pain as Cate moved her so Kris was now laying flat on the sidewalk not resting on her lap. Cate removed her zipped sweater jacket and used it to help slow the bleeding. Looking around Cate saw that the streets were empty it was so early that no one else was around. 'Damn it!' Cate yelled. 'Someone! Anyone help us!' Cate yelled out hoping someone would help them and soon.

'Cate.' Kris managed to say barely above a whisper. Cate turned to her trying hard to contain her panic.

'I'm right here Kris just hold on I'm going to get you to the hospital and you're going to be fine.' Cate said again looking all around for someone who could help. Blood began to seep in between Cate's fingers through the jacket.

'Jill.' Kris managed to say before her eyes rolled back and closed.

'Kris! Damn it Kris! You damn well stay with me, Kris! Argh, damn it, please someone help us!' Cate yelled out, but the streets remained empty and quiet.