kevinanddynasty - Liar! I could never outshine you. Hope you like this chapter. X

This is a very special chapter, the big one I've been working towards, so I really hope it's good.

P.S. I just wanted to say, not that anyone has said anything, but I wanted to assure you that if I ever write anything about Dynasty causing all of this, or deserving it etc, I am writing merely as Dynasty's opinion. I am in no way suggesting that rape can be the fault of the victim. Just thought I'd say that, ya know, because it's a sensitive subject and I know from reading back that it can sound like that's what I'm saying sometimes. Damn that third person narration. Okay, note over. Now, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Nine

Christine burst through the door to Michael's office without a word to a startled Sonya. Imogen followed her quickly as Dynasty sat down stoically, barely acknowledging that they had moved at all. Sonya placed a hesitant hand on Dynasty shoulder, asking if she wanted a cup of tea before Dynasty raised her head to revealed a horrified expression. She shook her head slowly and Sonya scurried back to her desk.

Meanwhile, Michael approached Christine cautiously. Her eyes were wide and searched his frantically. He took her hand soothingly.

"Michael, it's Connor... Kevin... Steve-O, I...," she stammered.

Michael's gaze lingered over Christine's shoulder as he caught sight of Imogen and Dynasty, who stood up and wrapped her shaking fingers around Imogen's arm.

"I think we should all sit down and you can tell me what's going on. Sonya, could you get us all some tea," Michael said, gesturing towards his office. Imogen shook her head and Christine began to offer a worried plea for help but it was Dynasty who stepped forward. Her eyes burned with blue flames and her limbs no longer shook as she stood tall and steady on her heels.

"Look, we don't have time for this. You're all hanging around like Steve-O won't kill him. Kevin might be a brain box but he doesn't know when to keep him mouth shut," Dynasty snapped hurriedly.

Behind her Imogen let out a sigh of agreement and whispered Connor's name.

Michael glanced at Sonya, then the phone on her desk. Christine, registering his hesitation, pushed past him, swiping his keys from his desk. She held them out before him.

"Michael, he is my son," she begged between gritted teeth.

A long moment passed until Michael snatched the keys from Christine's hand.

"Christine, I want you to call the police from the car. You two stay here,' Michael shot at Dynasty and Imogen.

Imogen's eyes grew wide and she looked fearfully up at Dynasty.

"No way," Dynasty objected.

Her stomach squirmed uncomfortably but she ignored it, instead immersing herself in the burning flames that traced every nerve of her body. They gave her strength.

"Michael," Christine urged, pushing him towards the door.

Michael let out a long breath and nodded at Dynasty.

"Where are we going?" he asked, attempting to smother the resignation in his voice.

The car park was deserted as Dynasty climbed into Michael's car beside Imogen.

Imogen's legs bounced nervously but Dynasty ignored her, her mind drifting as she fought the sickening dread that clawed at her heart with blackened fingers.

The car rumbled as Michael started the engine. He looked over his shoulder as he began to reverse. The car was moving too slowly for Dynasty, much like everything else, creeping along in slow motion. She wondered how long it had been since Imogen received Connor's call. In reality it couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, ten if they had made their way to Michael's office as quickly as she thought they had. Perhaps it still wasn't quick enough.

The car jolted to halt as Dynasty's scream of surprise filled the small space. Barry, having knocked hard on the window to stop the car, gestured for Dynasty to open the door.

Despite Michael's objects she pushed the door open, allowing Barry to squeeze into the car beside her.

"Where are you going?" Barry asked anxiously, eyeing Michael and Christine suspiciously.

"The docks," Dynasty replied, cursing his interruption. "Kevin's in trouble. Steve-O, he's... well, I don't know."

Barry shook his head slowly and let out a breath.

"Idiot," he muttered to himself, slamming the car door shut. "I'm coming with you," he informed Michael, patting the back of his seat.

As Christine raised her phone to her ear, Michael thrust the car into gear and they left the school behind them.

Dynasty could see them before the car had stopped. Imogen gasped and struggled with her seat belt as Steve-O whirled away from Connor, brandishing a small, jet black gun at Kevin.

Dynasty forced Barry out of the car and staggered on the uneven ground. Fixing her eyes warily on the plummeting steps that led down to the docks, Dynasty slipped out of her heels and abandoned them beside the car.

Behind her she could hear Barry screaming her name. Christine and Michael shouted similar distressed requests for her to return until the police arrived.

Imogen's quickening footsteps echoed behind Dynasty, growing closer until Imogen and Dynasty met the storage holds together.

Steve-O seemed unaware of their presence and Dynasty pushed herself forwards, leaving Imogen behind as she sprinted along the dock.

"You're wrong. She's strong; she'll go to the police and they'll lock you up like the animal you are!"

Kevin's strained voice floated through the air to her and she internally begged him to stop shouting, to stop provoking Steve-O. She had provoked him. This was her punishment.

Kevin's face fell as he finally heard Dynasty, closely followed by Imogen, racing towards them. Beyond them, Michael, Christine and Barry followed, each running towards the person they wanted to protect.

Barry charged to the aid of his sister. Christine rushed towards Connor in panic. Michael urged himself forwards to protect his students.

Kevin's sorrowful eyes did not go unnoticed. Steve-O followed Kevin's gaze, smiling dangerously as Dynasty slowed to a stop, gasping as her lungs burned with terror and lack of oxygen.

"Let him go, Steve-O," Dynasty choked.

Her eyes wandered to the gun.

In Steve-O's distraction, Connor saw his chance and plunged forwards, placing himself between Imogen and the weapon in Steve-O's grasp.

Steve-O laughed and reached out for Dynasty, beckoning her closer.

"Babe, come here. I need you to help me explain to this kid. He just doesn't get it. Think he's proper heartbroken, bless him."

Steve-O gestured more ardently towards Dynasty but she didn't move.

She stared breathlessly at Kevin, attempting to communicate everything that she had kept concealed since Steve-O's attack.

Dynasty's eyes watered as a single tear slid down her cheek. She had fought against the hysterical fits that consumed her over the past week and more than once she had screamed aloud with pain as her body convulsed violently, begging hopelessly for the agony to cease. Dynasty knew now that she would accept those episodes gratefully if they were offered again if they would end the splintering cracks tearing through her heart.

"We don't need him, Steve-O. I... I just want to go back to Liverpool. It can be me and you, yeah?" Dynasty took a breath to steady her voice. "I love you, you know I do. I told you; I just wanted to make you jealous, make sure you still wanted me." Dynasty took a step closer as Kevin shook his head. "He just doesn't understand."

Kevin could hear the deception in her voice but Steve-O had lowered the gun slightly. Kevin assumed that he did not sense Dynasty's facade like he did.

The madness in Steve-O's eyes made Kevin's pulse quicken as Dynasty took another step forward.

"Dynasty-" Kevin began but stopped short as Dynasty's eyes widened.

Dynasty's name on Kevin's lips and her sudden panic for his safety seemed to snap something inside of Steve-O.

"You're lying; trying to confuse me," he spat.

Steve-O lunged at Dynasty, forcing them towards the water. One of his large, coarse hands crushed around her throat.

"I'm not," Dynasty rasped, clawing desperately at his hand.

Kevin, Barry and Michael jerked forwards.

"Don't move, any of you," Steve-O ordered, pressing the gun to Dynasty's neck.

Kevin's breath caught in his throat. He was frozen, horrified and helpless.

"How could you, Dyn? After everything we've been through..."

Steve-O's voiced dropped to a devastated whisper.

Dynasty tears began to flow freely, dripping thickly onto Steve-O's hand.

Dynasty shook her head stiffly. Her mouth opened and closed again as she fought for the breath to speak.

Steve-O removed the gun from below Dynasty's jaw, revealing the red mark it left behind.

Kevin's heart thudded as he remembered all the times he had kissed that spot.

Steve-O traced the gun down Dynasty's side like it was an extension of his arm, like he could still feel her through the metal.

"You're in love with him?" Steve-O murmured in Dynasty's ear.

Dynasty sobbed, cringing away from the heat of his breath on her neck.

After a few moments of silence, Steve-O stiffened.

"I asked you a question, babe. Do you love him?" Steve-O bellowed.

Dynasty's frightened cry sent bolts of torturous anger through Kevin but he held his ground, afraid that if he approached, Steve-O would harm Dynasty further.

"You see, Dyn, this is why he has to die. He just has to-"

Kevin lunged forward as Barry leapt at Steve-O. Imogen's scream of terror exploded around them as Barry dragged Steve-O away from his sister and the thundering crack of a gun echoed across the water.

Oh yes, my gun is very much loaded. See you on the next chapter.