Chapter 87

Knowing that it was AJ's firm hand on the door and not her sisters, Krista didn't answer.

AJ tried the knob and found the door unlocked he opened the door and walked inside. Finding Krista laying on the bed sobbing he went to her and took her in his arms. "Sweetheart, what is wrong. You know you can tell me anything, I love you."

"No, I can't tell you!" she stated firmly.

"Krista, what is it that you can't tell me?"

"AJ, could you send Tom in please?"

"Tom, you want Tom? Alright, sweetheart, I'll have him to come back and talk to you, just remember I love you," AJ said leaving the room hurt and confused.

"Thank you, Albert," she whispered, but he didn't hear her, he had already returned to the kitchen.

"Tom, she wants to talk to you. Would you please go back and see if you can find out what's wrong?" AJ asked, shaking his head sadly.

"If you're sure it's what you want, AJ, I'll go," Tom replied looking at his best friends face.

"It's want she wants, Tom, so go." AJ turned and walked to the table and sit down.

Tom walked back to the bedroom and knocked at the door.

"Tom?" came the soft voice from inside.

"Yes," he answered.

"Come in."

Back in the kitchen AJ buried his head in his hands. "What can she tell him that she can't tell me?" he looked up at Krystal. "Don't you wonder what is going on in there?"

"Yes, but what can I do about it, AJ? She's my sister and needs to talk to someone and thinks it's Tom. I trust Tom and you should too, he's your friend. I know it has to hurt, but you know she loves you," replied Krystal getting up and walking to the door and looking outside. It was easy consoling AJ, but who would calm her nerves.

"I trust Tom with my life, Krystal. But I don't know what is upsetting your sister like this, and that is killing me! Is it that she can't talk about the fact that your father abused the two of you? Is that what she is keeping from me?"

"We were slapped around and yelled at, but abuse? I'm not sure if you'd call that abuse. At least not back then, maybe today," she whispered still staring out and rubbing her arms as though trying to get warm.

"Krystal, she told me that he would beat her while telling her that he loved her! That is abuse! If the man weren't dead Tom and I would be gunning for him for what he did to the two of you!"

"So, he beat us when he was drunk, he wasn't perfect. We did our best to stay out of his way during those times. It wasn't easy but we did the best we could. We had no place to go, no other relatives, what else could we have done?" she turned on him, tears running down her cheeks, angry that he be angry for what they had been through.

AJ stood and walked over to Krystal, "May I hold you Krystal? Please let me help?"

"I made it, AJ, and she did too. She's just weaker than I am. I'm the oldest and had to be stronger. I took as many of her beating as I could, but I couldn't take them all. Too many broken bones and bruises get noticed on the base hospital. I didn't protect her like I should have. It's not true, that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, it's not true," Krystal sobbed as she went into AJ's arms.

Holding her close he rocked her back and forth, "Krystal, you did the best you could, you can't blame yourself! You are only minutes older than Krista; you were still a child yourself! You two girls have been through more than you should ever had to and you are both amazing and strong women now. Look at where the two of you are! You are a Commander in the service of your country! Krista is a businesswoman and healer, you both have risen above what your father did to you and you have survived! I just hope that Krista knows how much I love he...oh god! Could that be it?" he asked stunned at the thought that had just hit him.

To be continued…