We've Got You
First Cobra Kai fic so I don't know if this will be any good, but I wanted to write my take on Season 6 Episode 5's events.
Tory had just left the doctor's office with the new dosage of meds for her mom and was walking to her car when she felt like someone was following her. She moved her leg to kick at whoever was following her, but the person caught her leg.
"Glad to see you're still training," Kreese said, a smirk on his face.
"What are you doing here? Aren't the police looking for you?" Tory asked, pulling her leg out of his grasp, a shocked look on her face.
"Oh, I'm not that easy to catch. I just came to check up on my champion." Kreese told her. "How are you holding up?"
"Oh, so now you care?" Tory asked rhetorically. "Last time I saw you, I needed your help. And you know what you said to me? "The best thing you can do right now is look after yourself." I went back for you! You left me to deal with Silver and his psycho-bitch sidekick alone!" Tory told him, anger flowing through her.
"You have every right to be angry. But I could not involve you in my plan to liberate myself. I know it seemed cold. But I was only trying to protect you. And now that I'm out, we have an opportunity to dominate"
"No. There is no "we." Tory told Kreese. There was a pause and Kreese noticed the Miyagi-Do Karate Gi.
"Oh, I see now. You know, I never thought I'd see the day when the Queen Cobra would join the enemy." Tory tried not to scoff at those words.
"They're my friends," Tory told Kreese.
"Darling don't be naïve," Kreese started. "They'll invite you in, but you'll never belong there. When push comes to shove, they'll always figure out a reason to keep you second fiddle to LaRusso's kid." Kreese told her and while Tory didn't want to believe him, deep down she knew he was right.
"Go crawl back under your rock. I may not be calling the police, but if my sensei's see you, they will." Tory told Kreese, wanting to get away from him.
"I am your sensei, and you are my champion," Kreese said, and Tory scoffed.
"I may be a champion, but I'm not yours," Tory said walking away from Kreese.
CKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCK
Tory's house
It was later in the day, after the training session when Tory got home.
"Well, thanks, Mrs. Parton," Tory said into her phone coming through the door. "Are you sure it's okay for Brandon to stay both nights?" pause "You're the best. Please make sure he brushes his teeth." Tory laughs and hangs up. She furrows her eyebrows and sniffs, smelling something coming from the stove.
"Mom, I'm home. Dr. Judith lowered all your prescriptions. She said you're doing so much better." Tory said. She tried to open her mother's pill jar but ended up spilling the pills. She got on the floor to pick them up when she looked ahead and saw her mother was unmoving on the floor.
"No. Mom." Tory said and rushed over to her mom. "Mom." Tory pleaded and began to shake her mother. "Mom. Mom! Mom! Mom!" Tory shook her some more, trying to wake her up. "Mom, wake up! Mom, please wake up. Wake up, Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!" Tory paused, unable to hold herself together, she began to cry. "Mom!"
CKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCK
At the hospital
Tory was sitting on a hospital chair, in her head, numb. She couldn't believe this was happening.
"Tory." The doctor called. "Tory? Tory." The doctor called one more time and Tory looked up. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."
Tory slowly stood up, not saying anything for a moment. "You said she was getting better."
"Your mom had a pulmonary embolism. We had no idea she was developing a blood clot. And when it broke up" Tory's anger built up and punched the wall, cutting the doctor off.
"You should have caught it." Tory cried out.
"Uh, you have every right to be upset. You're grieving. Just try to remember the last five years were a gift. Your mom was," Tory cut the doctor off again, anger now gone, she was filled with sadness. She couldn't believe that this was happening.
"I have to go," Tory said, walking away.
"Is there anyone we can call?" The doctor asked.
"There's no one," Tory told her, voice breaking, continuing to walk away, trying to hold in her tears.
CKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCK
It was a day later and time for Tory to go to the Dojo to fight for the captain's spot, but she just didn't have it in her. She knew her mom would want her to fight, she knew she needed to let out her anger somehow, but she didn't know if she was going to be able to focus or not. She was sitting in the hall of her house, thoughts running wild with memories of her mom. I want to fight, I need to fight.
At the Dojo
Robby and Miguel were fighting, Miguel leading 2-0 when Robby saw Tory come in. He was able to calm down and focus on seeing his girlfriend be there for him. He managed to come back and win the match, and he was going to be the male captain at Sekai Taikai.
Sam and Tory went on the deck, getting ready to fight.
"May the best women win," Sam said, fist extended out. Tory looked at it. Her mind flashed back to seeing her mother on the floor. She reached out to fist-bump Sam and the fight was underway.
Tory was using all her anger to fight Sam. She wasn't holding back yet Sam was still able to get up 2-1 on her. Tory knew that her mother would want her to win. She needed to win. Her eyes hardened, knowing she needed to get to this point. She watched Sam and could tell she was concerned but pushed that to the back of her mind.
The two fought, blocking each other's hits when Tory had her arm raised when Daniel stopped the fight by holding Tory's fist when she was about to hit Sam. "The fight's over."
"That's not fair," Tory said, trying to hold it together. "That could have been a point."
"What the hell?" Johnny asked, wondering why LaRusso would stop the fight. "I'm the ref. I'll decide when the fight's over." Johnny told Daniel and Daniel pulled him to the side.
"I'll explain. I promise." Daniel told him.
Tory looked on, devasted. "Don't stop the fight. Please." Tory begged.
"We can't do it in front of everybody," Daniel tried to tell Johnny.
"I'm fine, Dad. Really." Sam told Daniel, thinking her dad was worried about her being injured.
"No, Sam. It's not that. It's not that." Daniel told Sam, shaking his head.
"Come on." Tory looked like she was barely keeping it together.
"Please, girls. Off the deck. Let's go," Daniel continued to push.
"Don't tell them what to do. I'm their sensei too," Johnny fought.
"Well, then, end the fight." Daniel was trying to stay calm but knew he shouldn't air Tory's business in front of everyone.
"Why?" Johnny asked, wanting Daniel to come out and say what he had to say.
It was silent for a moment when Tory cracked.
"Because my mother died!" Tory shouted and everyone looked shocked and saddened by the news. Johnny and Devon especially. They understood what it was like to lose their mothers.
"Tory. I'm- I'm so sorry for your loss. But we can't continue this fight. This is not the time." Daniel told her.
"Yes, it is. Yes, it is. I have to fight now." Tory begged.
"No. Tory." Amanda said, trying to calm her down.
"I wanna fight, too, but this is not right," Sam said, feeling awful for Tory.
"Sensei Lawrence, some help here, please," Daniel asked.
"It's not up to us. If Nichols wants to fight, she should." Johnny said.
"We'll find another way to appoint the captain," Daniel said, not understanding how important this was to Tory and how much she needed this.
"Find a way?" No." Tory said, and tears filled her eyes. "No! You do not understand. None of you understand! My mom would have wanted this." Tory told her, voice breaking. "I have to do this. I have to do this for her. I have to fight." Tory tried to make them see what she needed.
"Tory, let's just take a second." Robby tried but Tory cut him off.
"No, Robby, no," Tory said, voice small.
"Just breathe. Tory, I know what you're feeling, okay? I also know that you're not in the right headspace to decide."
Tory shook her head, anger growing. "You don't want me to beat your daughter."
Amanda shook her head. "No."
"When push comes to shove, you're gonna choose her over me."
"No, it's not that, Tory." Amanda tried to explain, emotion in her own eyes, feeling for Tory.
"Hey, we're not taking sides," Daniel said.
"You sure about that?" Johnny asked, watching the situation unfold.
"Johnny." Daniel rolled his eyes, not liking that Johnny was making this worse.
"You want this fight to be over?" Tory asked and Amanda's heart dropped, knowing where Tory's mind was going. "Fine. It's over." Tory said, walking off the sparing neck and past everyone.
"Tory, where are you going?" Robby asked.
"I'm done!" Tory shouted, voice breaking, emotion finally getting the better of her as she walked away.
"Tory, Wait!" Sam called and raced over to her. She stood in front of Tory and pulled her into the dojo. Devon close behind.
"Great work, LaRusso. For you all we know you came close to losing one of our best fighters." Johnny said, anger clear in his voice.
"Why the hell didn't you back me up?" Daniel asked.
"Because she wanted to fight!" Johnny shouted, not caring that they had an audience.
"Her mother just died. What's the matter with you?" Daniel asked and Johnny wanted to pull out his hair. He didn't know why Daniel was being so hardheaded.
"She was working through it!" Johnny tried to defend Tory. "When my mom died, all I wanted to do was get on a mat for three rounds. It would have helped me then. It would have helped her now." Johnny argued.
"So, what are you saying?" Daniel asked.
"What if she fought one of us?" Johnny asked. "She needs to let her anger out and it's better she tries to let it out on one of us than any of the students."
"I'll fight her." Daniel and Johnny turn to look at Robby. "I can handle it."
Daniel looked back at Amanda and saw her shrug. Daniel looked back at Johnny and nodded. "I'll go talk to Tory. I'll let her know."
Daniel walked down the sparing deck and was going to go to the dojo but stopped walking when he felt Amanda's hand on his arm.
"Let me," Amanda said. Daniel nodded and watched Amanda walk towards the dojo.
In the dojo
Devon was holding Tory in her arms while Sam rubbed her back when Amanda walked in.
"Devon, Sam. Mind giving me and Tory a moment alone?" Sam and Devon nodded and walked out. But not before Devon said something to Tory and Amanda watched Tory nod her head.
Amanda sat in front of Tory, not touching her but wanting Tory to know that she was there for her.
"Tory, the hospital called me and told me what happened," Amanda explained. "I told Daniel to stop the fight, I figured you weren't in the right state of mind to fight and I'm sorry I.."
"You were just protecting your daughter," Tory cut her off.
"Tory," Amanda called, wanting Tory to look at her. "Tory, please look at me." Tory slowly looked up at Amanda and her heart broke at the pain that was clear in Tory's eyes. "Yes, I want my daughter to be okay, but I also want you to be okay. I've seen how much you've gone through along with what my daughter has gone through. Both of you haven't had it easy lately and you both have your struggles but, Tory, I want you to know you have a home with us, okay?" Amanda told Tory and she just watched Tory nod. Amanda didn't know if it would be the right move, but she hugged Tory, and Tory broke down in tears again.
"Thank you," Tory said, drying her eyes and pulling away from Amanda after several minutes.
"No need to thank me," Amanda told her, a soft smile on her face. "Tory, there is one thing." Amanda waited for Tory to look at her. "Daniel and Johnny have agreed to let you fight if you'd like."
Tory bit her lip and looked down. She sighed and stood up, Amanda doing the same. "Look, I don't know what you did to make them agree to let me fight, but I don't think I can," Tory admitted. "If your husband didn't stop me I'm almost sure I would've ended up punching your daughter illegally and God," Tory stopped and brought a hand up to her face and rubbed her forehead. "The thought alone makes me sick. I don't know how the hell I've done and said so many cruel things to Sam and other kids, but I just know that girl. That girl that attacked your daughter in the halls at school. That girl that almost attacked your daughter at the arcade and that girl who came barging into your home isn't who I am." Tory told her, looking at her briefly and then back down. "Who I am is this I guess." Tory chuckles sarcastically. "I guess she was right."
"Who was right?" Amanda asked, eyebrows knitting together. She was going to tell Tory she would be fighting Robby or Johnny or Daniel, but she watched Tory's face pale and looked down at her hand. "Tory?" Amanda asked, concerned that Tory wasn't saying anything. "How did you hurt your hand? I know you had it in a brace for weeks." Amanda told her and watched Tory back away and turn away from her. For a moment Amanda thought Tory would run away until she started speaking.
"It was during training at Cobra Kai. I was given a punishment for not going through with fighting Sam." Tory told her, looking down, rubbing over the marks that were left. She turned around.
Amanda frowned, she knew Cobra Kai was tough on the kids, but she never thought Silver would go as far as to break a kid's hand.
"So Silver did that?" Amanda asked, motioning to Tory's hand. Tory shook her head. "Then who did?"
"Silver's partner. Sensei Kim." Tory was still looking down. "We were dismissed for the day when Kim and Silver called me to stay behind." Tory looked up at Amanda and Amanda grew more concerned when she saw the pain in Tory's eyes.
"What did they make you do?" Amanda asked, gently reaching to hold Tory's hand. She watched Tory's face and saw her eyes tear up. "Tory?"
Tory closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "The other sensei's brought out a stone dummy," Tory told her and Amanda's eyes widened.
"They made you hit it?" Amanda asked and Tory slowly nodded.
"My hand was bleeding after the first hit," Tory told her, a faraway look in her eyes. "I hit it over and over again until I couldn't handle the pain anymore and landed on my knees," Tory told her as Amanda was gently rubbing over the scars, helping her have the strength to continue. "Kim got me railed up. Anger took over. I stood up, ready to punch her but she moved out of the way and my hand collided with the stone and broke it. Then she and Silver said the lesson was over." Tory told her, tears falling.
"Oh, my God, Tory." Amanda was shocked. "And you didn't tell anyone?"
Tory shook her head. "I just went home and iced my hand," Tory told her. "I figured there was no one that would care." Tory shrugged.
Amanda wrapped Tory in her arms and held her. She wished she could've done more to help the girl. She knew Tory was having a tough time trying to take care of her brother and mother and knew Tory wasn't giving herself a second thought. She shook her head. Time to change that. Amanda thought.
"Tory, I know we haven't always been there for you, I know we couldn't stand each other at first, but we've got you, okay? We've got you. It's okay for you to lean on us." Amanda told her and pulled Tory into a hug when she started sobbing.
Amanda had been holding Tory for what seemed like forever when she let go. "I've got to go back to the dealership but how about I take you and Sam back to our place?" Amanda asked, not wanting to leave Tory alone right now since she said she wasn't interested in fighting anyone right now.
Tory just nodded but then stopped. "Mrs. LaRusso, there's something you need to know." Amanda frowned and furrowed her eyebrows. "Something about John Kreese." Tory paused and took a deep breath. "He's back."
This was a lot longer than I thought it would be, but I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave comments and Kudos and if you want me to continue this or not.