Chapter 12.

Everyone congregated back in Kris's room. Tiffany, Bosley and Julie had returned with food and drink which had all the Angels and Bosley sat eating, even Jill with all her worries managed to eat something whilst keeping one eye on Kris.

'So what did your contact have to say?' Julie asked Cate before eating a forkful of pasta.

'Not much, nothing that we didn't all ready know.' Cate replied trying her best to dodge the question.

'Who did you go to see?' Bosley asked.

'Stewie.' Cate answered taking a drink from her soda can. Bosley sat forward hearing that, putting his coffee cup down on the table.

'You saw Stewie and he didn't have much to say? I find that hard to believe.'

'Why's that Bos?' Tiffany asked sat on the sofa resting her head on her hand propped on the back of the sofa.

'Because he's Diane's brother.' Bosley explained looking at Cate from under his eyebrows, he knew there was more to this than Cate was letting on.

'You went to see her brother and see him alone?' Tiffany questioned Cate as she sat straight on the sofa shocked by Cate's recklessness. 'Are you crazy?'

'How do you think we tracked her down last time?' Cate retorted. 'Stewie has always been a snitch and for a good deal he gave up his own sister. He's not dangerous, if anyone is to be feared in their family it's Diane and no other.' Cate pointed out. 'He was the best lead we had on her last time.'

'And this time?' Jill asked breaking her own silence looking up at Cate for the answer.

'He didn't know anything.'

'He didn't know anything?' Jill asked finding that hard to believe. 'He knew everything last time he must know something. What aren't you telling us Cate?' Jill asked verbally pushing Cate into a corner.

'Nothing Jill, you know everything I do, which isn't a lot. His sister hasn't been in touch with him in fact he's afraid for his own life.'

'Diane has a hit out on him?' Bosley asked.

'I doubt it I think just cutting him out of her life and business was enough, I'm not sure she'd kill her own brother.' Cate said taking a drink again.

'She'll just kill everyone else.' Jill remarked getting up from her seat heading back to Kris's side.

'Cate we ought to be making a move if we're going to get ready, pick up Marcus and still get to D24 on time.' Julie said looking at her watch.

'But the fight isn't until later tonight is it?' Tiffany asked confused.

'Being the latest finalist we get to check out the fighting arena early, get a feel for it apparently.' Cate quickly fibbed as Julie stood gathering her purse and jacket not looking at either Bosley or Tiffany.

'Call us as soon as it starts Julie and when it ends.' Bosley ordered with honest concern.

'Will do.' Julie smiled as she headed for the door looking back for Cate who was stood over Jill who sat with her back to the rest of the room not taking her eyes off of Kris.

'Be careful tonight, I don't want you ending up in here like this as well.' Jill whispered to Cate so only the two of them could hear what they were saying. 'Talk to that sister of yours, make some form of peace ok?' Jill asked looking up at Cate who nodded looking across to Kris. 'Promise me Cate.' Jill said taking a hold of Cate's sleeve. Placing a reassuring hand on Jill's shoulder Cate met her gaze and smiled.

'I promise.' Cate squeezed Jill's shoulder once more before turning to leave the room waving to the others as she left with Julie.

'Thanks for covering that in there.' Julie said as they walked down the corridors.

'Sure, can't let the cat out of the bag just yet.' Cate said trying to smile.

'Not sure Kelly would like being referred to as a cat.' Julie laughed.

'Well it's the more pleasant description I've used of late.' Cate said laughing slightly as they reached the elevator.

'Will Marcus still be at your place?' Julie asked as they travelled down in the elevator to the car park.

'I think he had some things to do at his clinic but he should be back there by now. Why?' Cate asked a devilish glint in her eyes, a lot may have been going on these last few days and weeks but some things hadn't gotten past her. Julie looked ahead at her blurred reflection in the elevator doors playing with her fringe ignoring Cate's look.

'No reason, just wondering, we don't want to be late meeting with Kelly that's all.'

'Uh-huh. Well don't worry Marcus is usually always on time.' Cate smiled watching Julie smiling to herself as the elevator doors opened to the underground car park.

'So she made contact with you then. Well, it was only a matter of time I suppose.' Diane Matisse said to her brother Stewie as she walked around him in the seat he was sat in practically trembling. 'Don't be so nervous around me Stewie, I'm not going to hurt you, you did as I asked you came to me as soon as she made contact and don't worry I'll make her pay for what she's done to you.' Diane said sitting on the edge of her desk looking at her brother who was wearing a neck brace and had a crutch with him his right foot wrapped in thick bandages and his right eye bruised. 'They'll all pay trust me.' Diane smiled and began to laugh.

'Cate! You ready we gotta go!' Marcus called out to Cate from the lounge.

'I'm coming Marcus calm down.' Cate calmly said as she walked out from her bedroom into the lounge where Julie and Marcus were waiting for her. Both looked and stared at Cate without saying a word. 'What?' Cate asked.

'You're not wearing the clothes Roth gave you?' Julie asked surprised to see Cate in her black jeans, red vest t-shirt covered with a black western styled shirt, with which Cate wore a black waistcoat over with a fox embroidered on the back.

'Not for this fight, if I'm going in there to really kick some ass, I'm going in as me not as some dressed up fighter for higher. Now, where did I leave my boots?'

'Under the coffee table.' Marcus said with a slight smile as Cate smiled nodding when she saw them, heading over to the couch to put them on. Seeing Cate wearing her normal garb made him feel more at ease with where she was about to be and was about to have to do.

'All right let's go and see this sister of mine.' Cate said slapping her thighs as she got up off the couch.

'You got the coin?' Julie asked Cate as they headed out the door.

'In my pocket.' Cate reassured tapping the front pocket of her jeans. 'Stop worrying.'

'Stop saying that.' Julie came back with smiling, something felt right about this evening, the mood Cate was in. Everything was going to be ok Julie thought to herself as they all got into Cate's Mustang.

'What happened here?' Marcus asked when he saw the dents in Cate's car.

'Some thug kicked the hell out of it.' Cate said plainly as she got into the driver's seat. Marcus shook his head smiling knowing exactly who the thug was as he got into the back seat of the car.

After a drive through the city Cate, Julie and Marcus arrived at D24. Parking around the back they all got out and headed through the back doors where they were met by the big guy that first took Cate through to meet with Kelly. He lead them into the office with blacked out windows again and left the room, Kelly entered finding Marcus and Cate were sat in the arm chairs whilst Julie stood looking out over the final fighting ring, an enclosed arena a larger size than the original ring with what looked like large Perspex panels surrounding it. All the seating that once was set out around the ring was removed to allow the room for this larger fighting space.

'It's good to see you all.' Kelly opened with as she sat on the sofa placing a file down on the glass coffee table, the others didn't make much effort to acknowledge Kelly's welcome.

'What have you got for us?' Cate asked pointing towards the file on the table.

'This is who you will be in the ring with tonight.' Kelly explained opening the file.

'You mean the guy in the ring is for real, he's not a cop?' Julie asked surprised and worried at the same time.

'No.' Kelly plainly answered. 'The agent we had in the ring Cate took down.' Kelly explained.

'I did, when did I do that?' Cate said flipping the file round so she could read it.

'The fight before last, for whatever reason the police didn't believe Cate would get through to the final the way she has.'

'They underestimated her.' Marcus commented looking away from Kelly towards the windows.

'They certainly did.' Kelly smiled towards her sister who was leafing through the file.

'So how good is this guy?' Julie asked sitting on the arm of the armchair Cate was sat in reading over her shoulder.

'Very good.' Kelly replied in a warning tone.

'And very big.' Cate said reading the fighters stats pointing them out to Julie.

'How many fights has he won?' Julie asked.

'He's still the reigning champ.' Kelly commented.

'But how many fights?' Marcus asked again facing Kelly now.

'This will be his tenth.' Kelly said getting up and walking over to the small bar in the corner of the office making herself a drink.

'You'd better make that for three.' Julie said watching Kelly who nodded. Cate kept her head down in the file as Kelly placed a soda down in front of her.

'I have video tape as well.' Kelly said placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. Kelly walked over to her desk picking up a remote control clicking a button on it which shut the blinds in the room, pressing another button activated a painting at one end of the room to lower to reveal a large screen, pushing one more button the screen came to life showing the fighting without sound. Everyone looked up to the screen studying the footage.

'He's good, what's his name?' Marcus asked watching the big brick house of a man slam his opponent into the Perspex walling.

'Tiny Tim.' Julie said looking down to the file in Cate's lap.

'Playing on the ironic. Nice.' Marcus commented as Tiny Tim slammed his opponent across his knee. Cate said nothing as she studied the tape looking for his weak spots, trying to see if there was a side to him that he favoured, he looked fight perfect, that was a problem.

'Well on the up side he's big and slow. That's the problem with being all muscle and not much else.' Cate said aloud after they watched the third fight in which Tiny's opponent was zipping around him until he got clothes lined by Tiny which looked like it nearly took his head off. Everyone in the room winced at that moment. By the ninth fight Cate was starting to see Tiny's flaws.

'His knees are weak, especially the left one. Look how he puts his weight on to the right one favouring it. There's a good weak spot to know.'

'And is it me or does he not notice things to well on his left side as well?' Julie asked.

'You're right Julie, looks like his sight isn't too great that side.' Kelly agreed.

'Probably from the amount of hits he's taken to that side. Remember how long he stayed down a couple of fights before this one, looked pretty dazed when that fighter kicked him sideways on into the wall.' Marcus pointed out picking up his drink. Cate took in all the information watching her new opponent as much as she could. Kelly had done good getting this for her; she may have just saved Cate from serious injury or being killed.

'Hey look at the time guys. Marcus we need to get downstairs to the changing rooms and get things set up.' Julie said realising that time was getting on; Marcus nodded finished his drink and stood up waiting for Julie to meet him at the side of the sofa.

'You two go on ahead, I'll be down in a few minutes.' Cate said as both Marcus and Julie turned to her expectantly. Understanding the sisters needed a moment they both nodded and left the office.

'How are you feeling?' Kelly asked as she watched Cate walk up to the screen still watching the big guy fight.

'Honestly.'

'Yeah, honestly.'

'Scared. I'm afraid that I'm going to fail, I'm scared that Kris won't wake up I'm just...' Cate turned to the windows away from the screen. Kelly switched off the screen opening up the blinds again.

'I'm scared too. Scared at what might happen to you out there tonight, that I can't get to you in time to help, I'm scared for Kris also. I'm also sorry for everything I've put you through and I'm so ashamed of myself and sorry for hitting you, which was unforgivable.' Kelly apologised sitting down in the armchair Cate had vacated. Cate walked over to her sister kneeling down in front of her covering Kelly's hands with her own. 'What's happening to us all?'

'We're being pushed to breaking point and it's exactly what Diane wants. I'm sorry to Kelly, I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did, I shouldn't have blamed you. I was just...'

'Angry at the situation that Charlie and I had put you in and you had a right to be. I won't do it again Cate I promise you that.' Kelly interrupted.

'You will, and if you don't Charlie will and we're all supposed that's what this job is all about.'

'But we could have gone about this in a completely different manner.' Kelly tried to argue but Cate simply smiled at her big sister tilting her head to one side.

'You know we could argue about this all night and I'd love to you have no idea how much I would love that but we'll never reach a compromise that satisfies us both. Let's just say we both had our faults in this and leave it at that right now I'm just happy you're here and alive. That pleases me more than anything else.' Kelly quickly moved her hands from under her sister's and threw her arms around her holding Cate tightly wishing she didn't have to let go. Cate held on just as tightly before breaking away and getting up to leave the room.

'I'd better get downstairs.' Cate said as she reached the door.

'Cate, please be careful tonight.' Kelly pleaded as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

'Always sis, see you afterwards. Just one more fight Kel and we're done and Roth is out of the way.'

'And we move onto Diane.' Kelly agreed. Cate looked over her shoulder to her sister and smiled.

'Exactly.' She said before opening the door and leaving the room. The room fell silent as Kelly sat looking at the door where her baby sister had just walked out praying that she would return as she was unharmed and safe.

'If only.' Kelly whispered to herself knowing that would be a miracle.

As Cate walked in through one door to her changing room to meet Julie and Marcus so did Roth through another.

'Good you're here.' He said upon seeing Cate.

'Where else would I be Mr. Roth, is everything ok?' Cate asked knowing full well that it wasn't. Roth would be upset about Jill's departure.

'I've had better days. Why aren't you wearing the clothes I had made for you?' Roth snapped in annoyance.

'Because if this is to be my final fight I'm going to wear what I want and be comfortable; besides if I fight more like myself there's a better chance I just might survive out there and who knows maybe even win.' Cate explained as she sat up on the padded bench.

'I see well, yes of course, whatever makes you feel comfortable I'm sure.' Roth said backing down and smugly smiling. 'Well I'd better get to my box seating to watch. Now remember that reward for winning this is substantial. I get control of the arena and you my dear become the new undefeated champ!' Roth excitedly said clapping Cate around the shoulder. Cate arched her eyebrow at Roth afterwards as she watched him swan out of the room. 'Good luck!' He called back waving his hand in the air.

'Jack ass.' Marcus said as Roth left.

'Total ass.' Julie agreed.

'So we're agreed that Roth is an ass?' Cate joked swinging her legs up onto the bench and lying down.

'We're agreed now let's just check your stitches one last time.' Marcus laughed as Cate sighed unfastening her waistcoat and shirt.

'I'm gonna take a walk around see what's going on around here to the lead up to the fight.' Julie decided as she left the room.

'She doing ok?' Cate asked Marcus once Julie was out of the room.

'Considering everything that's going on yeah, I'd say Julie's doing ok. She's worried about you though, we both are.' Marcus said as he checked over the stitches that were still holding strong, lightly tapping Cate's stomach to let her know everything was fine she began to pull her t-shirt down and her shirt together to button it again. 'Hold on Cate I brought you something I want you to put on.' Marcus said reaching into his bag. Baffled Cate sat up swinging her legs back down again. Marcus handed her a small Kevlar vest. 'I have some contacts of my own and got you this. Put it on.' Marcus ordered.

'You got me Kevlar? How sweet.' Cate teased.

'Just put it on smart ass.' Marcus said smiling. Cate did as she was told. 'It should be small enough not to be noticed but it will protect you as much as any Kevlar vest can.' Marcus explained Cate smiled to him as she began to fasten her shirt again.

'Thank you Marcus, you think of everything.' Cate said kissing Marcus on his forehead. 'So, what's going on between you and Julie?' Cate asked off the cuff. Marcus spluttered, taken completely off guard by the question, Cate just laughed at his response as Julie walked back into the room.

'What's going on in here?' Julie asked not being able to stop herself from smiling with them.

'Oh nothing,' Cate said. 'what's happening out there?'

'They're getting ready to start. Are you ready?' The mood suddenly changed in the room to that of complete seriousness. It was time.

'Ready as I'll ever be, let's go.' Cate said pulling her waistcoat down straightening it. Leading the way Cate walked out of the changing room to the main arena with Marcus and Julie not far behind her. As they entered into the arena Julie and Marcus walked to their separate out of view sitting area, across the room and through the fighting ring Cate spotted Tiny Tim walking through to the arena.

'Damn, he's bigger in real life.' Cate whispered to herself trying not to show her shock and concern to the fact, lifting her eyes to the boxed seating she could see Roth in his and looked towards the blacked out windows where she knew Kelly was watching.

'Fighters please make your way to the podium.' The MC called out over the microphone. Both Cate and Tiny did as they were asked heading up to the podium. 'Please place your coins onto the podium.' Both fighters again did as they were asked, Tiny looked Cate up and down before growling and chuckling to himself.

'Don't worry sweetheart it will all be over before you know it.' Tiny said.

'Great.' Cate said walking away from him back to her side of the ring where a man stood waiting for her so he could open the door to allow Cate into the enclosed ring.

'Watch your back Angel.' The door man said. Cate turned and lowered her head to him hearing what he had to say. One of the many cops Cate thought. 'Don't worry we'll stop the fight if it gets too bad.' He whispered to Cate.

'Great.' Cate sarcastically whispered back looking into the ring.

'Fighters enter!' The MC called out. Cate noticed straight away how quiet the room was, it was almost distracting to her having been used to the crowds for so long, but then that was the point Cate realised, to distract you from your fight. 'Close all doors.' The MC called out snapping Cate back to the fight at hand.

'I'd better go call the others.' Julie said as she got up from her seat walking back towards the changing room. Marcus nodded in agreement as he kept his eyes on Cate.

Back at the hospital in Kris's room Jill and Tiffany still sat in the same positions waiting for news from Julie on the fight or for Kris to finally wake up. Bosley walked back into the room after stepping out to take the phone that had come in for him. Both Angels turned towards him expectantly.

'That was Julie, the fight has just started.' Bosley explained taking his seat back next to Tiffany.

'How's everyone there?' Tiffany asked.

'Julie said they were fine, Cate was ready but the guy she's fighting...'

'He's big?' Tiffany asked.

'His name is Tiny Tim.' Bosley said.

'So he's huge.' Tiffany said leaning forward now worried again.

'Yeah. This is gonna be a hard fight.' Bosley said leaning back in his seat. Jill listened to the other two whilst she sat by her sister still holding onto her hand, closing her eyes Jill said a silent prayer asking for a miracle.

'Jill?' A familiar voice weakly asked for at the same time as squeezing Jill's hand. Jill sat straight to attention as Kris's eyes fluttered open; tears began to fall again from Jill's eyes this time from sheer joy and relief.

'Kris!' Jill exclaimed, standing up and over her little sister. 'I'm right here sweet pea, you're going to be ok.' Jill looked round to Bosley and Tiffany who were both stood, Bosley left the room to go and get the doctor or nurse as Tiffany moved to stand by the other side of Kris.

'You had us worried there.' Tiffany softly said smiling down at Kris.

'Like to keep you on your toes.' Kris smiled groggily looking at Tiffany as the doctor entered with Bosley not far behind him.

'I'd better go call Charlie.' Tiffany said once she got the all clear nod from the doctor who performed some tests with Kris. Kris breathed in as deeply as she could before twinges of pain stopped her.

'That's going to hurt for a few weeks yet.' The doctor smiled to Kris as he wrote down notes on her chart. 'Take it east, get some rest and I'll check on you again in a few hours, buzz if you need anything.' The doctor said as he turned and walked out of the room. Lifting her right arm to rest across her stomach Kris felt something in her right hand. Opening it she found Cate's pendant.

'What's happened?' Kris asked looking from the pendant to Jill and then Bosley. Jill sat beside Kris to explain.

Meanwhile at D24 Cate and Tiny stood in the enclosed arena waiting for the go from the MC.

'Tonight is a very important night.' The MC began. 'Tonight sees our reigning champ face our new rising star fighter. Ladies and gentlemen, for your pleasure welcome to the final show down. Fighters ready!' The MC called out both Cate and Tiny got themselves into a prepared stance.

'Fight!'

All right everyone, we're getting close to the end!!! Well, not overly close but we're getting there. I can read the numbers, a lot of you are reading, which is awesome, keep it up and if you can drop me a review?! Don't normally ask but it's nice to hear ya! Enjoy! AJ5 ;-)