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Just One of Many Pt. 01

By: MoonlessNight



Chapter 1

Chris's first thought as he stood in the middle of her living room was that he could love to live like this. It was simple. 

At six foot three, and two hundred pounds, Christopher Sparks was nothing but simple. He worked a simple job. He ate simple TV dinners every night by himself, and he wore simple clothes. He was the average, simple, American man. He worked the nine-to-five shift as a cop. He had been a sergeant in the Army only a year after his first deployment in Germany, at the age of twenty-one. He spent his nights there drinking in bars and keeping company that his mother wouldn't have approved of. 

Now, he stood in the middle of Catherine Kelly's living room. It was occupied by a simple black sofa, a rocking chair, and a rectangular scratched up coffee table. To the immediate right, a small round table with two chairs served as the dining room. A sink, microwave, and a small counter were the kitchen. Down the hallway a few feet, was one bedroom. That's were Catherine and her two and a half year old daughter were. Catherine was quickly shoving raggedy jeans and baby clothes in bags. Two already sat at the door. Chris wondered how much she would pack. 

She bent down on her knees, wrapping a blue and white jacket around the girl, zipping it then kissed her head before scooping her up. She got back to her feet and grabbed the bag, slung it over her shoulder, and walked to the door. Chris took this as the cue that she was ready to go. 

Catherine bent and kissed her little sister on her blond covered head. She knew the man thought Megan was her daughter. She wasn't. She was her sister. Myra, their mother, had given birth to her three weeks before she was murder by her husband and the father of her children. She had always wanted the best for her children. Now look at what they had. 

Tyler Mathew Carrier was thirty-two years old when he went to prison for murder. He raped, beat, and then stabbed his wife to death. Thirty-two cuts. Tyler Carrier was also a mob boss. He was responsible for over two thousand deaths. Of course, being a mob boss at the top of the chain, he never did get tried for them. The death of his beautiful, twenty-eight year old wife was what brought him down.

Now, Catherine's nightmare had come true. Her worthless piece of shit father had broken out of prison. Now, she had to run. She had promised her baby sister and her own self that she would never let Megan know what really happened that awful January night. Catherine would never let that nightmare come into Megan's life. No matter if she had to drive for the rest of her life. Which is what she was doing now. 

Chris stood awkwardly at the door, waiting as she pulled a blanket over the baby's head. Why did they do that? He always saw mothers doing that. Let the kid breathe!

"Are you ready?" He asked, opening the door. Catherine nodded. 

Chris led the way to a black Explorer in the gravel driveway beside the house. He opened the back hatch and placed the bags inside. Catherine laid the young girl down on the leather seat, covered her with a flannel blanket he had given her. He got behind the wheel, started the engine and the heater. He waited as Catherine looked around then got in the truck with a sigh. 

He had never had a real conversation, but it occurred to Chris what Catherine might have gone through. In the case report, she had been the key witness to her own mother's brutal murder. Her testimony was the only thing that sent her father to prison for the rest of his sorry life. Wait, if she was seventeen at the time, and it had only been two years.....that meant he was driving a nineteen year old across the damn country. Nineteen? And she had a two year old daughter? He thought frantically as he changed stations on the radio. 

"I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. With a young daughter and all." He glanced at her and she looked back. 

"She's not my daughter." Catherine lowered her voice as she said it. "She's my sister. My mom gave birth to her three weeks before Tyler ki-before what happened." 

Chris leaned back in his seat, gripping the wheel tighter. He glanced over at Catherine, seeing him looking at him. He gave her a smile and she tried her damndest to smile back him. It couldn't legally be called a smile though. 

"So, you...adopted her?" Catherine nodded, sighing. 

"Yeah. I grew up fast. Dropped out of school, got an apartment as far away from that house and neighborhood I could. She knows me as her mother and I won't be the one to ever tell her different."

"But, you're her sister...."

"Do you know what makes a mother? It's not the nine months you carry a baby, or giving birth that makes a mother. The nights you rush to the emergency room because she has a hundred and two fever that won't break, the sleepless nights of rocking her to sleep, and the thousands of diapers you buy make you a mother."

With that, she stared at him. He saw tears in the corners of her eyes. In a blink, they disappeared and he questioned whether they had actually been there. He cleared his throat and picked at the leather on the steering wheel. He tried to calm his nervousness, but he couldn't seem to get a grip on it.

"You have kids? A wife?" Chris shook his head. "Why not? You're what, forty?"

Chris gapped at her opened mouth. Forty? For god's sake, he was only thirty-four. 

"I look like I'm forty? You've got to be kidding me-"

"I am." Catherine interrupted, smiling. Chris chuckled. 

"I'm only thirty-four. You're what, sixteen, seventeen?" He asked with a smirk. Catherine's smile disappeared. 

Catherine turned her head to look out the window. She knew this would happen sooner or later. If it wasn't that she had Megan, it was her age that men started judging her on. Was it impossible for a young woman to have a life if she was still a teen? Was she supposed to be fucking guys left and right, getting drunk on the weekends and skimming off her parents? Well, she didn't have the options. Even if she did, she wouldn't take them. She was a virgin and intended to wait for the right one, or the closet one to him, before she even thought twice before she spread her legs. 

"I'm almost twenty. Why do you care?" She snapped, still looking out the window. 

"You shouldn't have this burden on your shoulders at nineteen. Raising a baby when you're still a baby yourself."

"You think she's a burden to me?" She narrowed her eyes at him, shouting the question. Before he could think, the little girl in the back woke. 

Chris pulled to a stop at a 7-11 to the left. Catherine got out, sitting in the backseat with Megan. She wrapped her in the red flannel blanket, holding her to her chest as she got a black suitcase from the floorboard. 

When Chris got back to the truck, he was surprised at the site beside him. The girl-Megan-was wrapped in the blanket on Catherine's lap. On her lap was his brand-new traveling DVD player, in it was a Winnie-the-Pooh movie. Great, driving cross country listening to Winnie and Tiger too. Just what he had planned. 

He got behind the wheel again, starting the trip for the second time in thirty minutes. He sipped at a Pepsi while she had refused to eat or drink. By the way she looked, she did that often. 

By eight that night, they were in Orangeville. They arrived at the first operator's house. An operator, they make it sound like the Underground Railroad. The operator happened to be a fellow police officer. He was a plump round man with three kids running around screaming and a wife baking in the kitchen. An all American family. 

Amy, his wife, set them up in one of the bedrooms on the third floor. It was adjoined by its own bathroom. Unfortunately, it only had a full size bed. When Catherine saw this, she fought a surge of panic in her throat. 

"You and the girl take the bed. I'll sleep in the chair over there."

"The girl has a name, it's Megan. And that's fine, but I won't be sleeping."

"You need your rest. Sleep." Catherine looked up from the suitcase she was digging around in.

"I can handle myself just fine, thank you. Why don't you just worry about you for the time being?"

"I can't do that." 

"And why is that?" Catherine asked with a huff. 

"You two are my witnesses. You're my responsibility." 

"Well I can fend for myself, thanks." 

"So you say." He mumbled. 

Chapter 2

Catherine pulled her knees up to her chest on the window seat, a Steno pad and pen on her lap. She had started carrying a notebook with her where ever she went when she was fifteen. Any time she was scared, she was nervous, she wrote. Nothing mattered when she wrote. And afterward, she always felt better. 

"I thought I told you to get some rest." Catherine couldn't help but smile. 

"Really, I don't recall that." Chris laughed softly, getting to his feet from the hard rocking chair. 

"Man, I hate wood." Catherine smiled. "Hey, uh, you wanna go take a walk?"

"Um...sure." Catherine got up from the sill, slipping on some tennis shoes. After she checked on Megan she followed him down the stairs quietly and into the backyard.

Chris had been to these parts many of times. A lake and forest was their back yard, and it was a beautiful sight. He walked side-by-side with Catherine along the stone path. It was beautiful with all the flowers and lake. Amy had really turned the place out. 

"So...Catherine I-"

"Please, call me Cat." Chris smiled. 

"Ok, Cat, I just wanted to make sure you were doing ok. I mean besides leaving everything and a mob serial killer coming after you-"

"Is there a good side to all this?" Cat smiled. Chris chuckled nervously. 

"I just wanted to see if you were doing ok. I know this must really be hard, but it's for your protection." 

Cat sighed and crossed her arms. February really wasn't the time for long walks at midnight. Chris noticed this, taking off his leather jacket and slipping it around her shoulders. Cat took it with a smile. 

"I'm doing ok. It's hard on me. It took a long time to get the apartment. And I know to you, it probably isn't the most prettiest of things. But you have to understand that for a fifteen, taking care of a baby, getting a job and apartment, that was a very big thing for me."

"I understand." They sat down by each other on the bench looking out over the lake. "My mom was left with four kids when my dad split. I was only eleven. As the oldest though, I had to grow up. I had to take care of the rest of us while she worked. She did her damndest though. Never missed dinner, though it only lasted for fifteen minutes."

"So... you had....three brothers?"

"One sister, three years younger than me, one brother a year younger, and my youngest brother are five years younger than me." 

Chris realized what he had just said. He was getting way too involved with this girl. That's exactly what she was, a girl. Not only that, but a young girl in his protective care. Oh and what he could do to 'care' for her. With that small, tight backside. Small but full round breasts, a slim waist and her long black hair. Her golden brown eyes shimmered by the lake, more beautiful than the moon its self.

"Are you ok?" Chris snapped back to reality, looking up at her concerned eyes. 

"What?"

"I asked if you were ok?"

"Oh, yeah, fine." Chris said, waving it off. 

Catherine looked at Chris. He was only in his sweat pants, tennis shoes and a wife beater. She could easily see his taunt and toned abs. She saw part of a tattoo and without realizing, touched it. His chest jerked, shocked by the touch.

"I'm sorry." They both said at the same time. 

Chris rested his hand lightly on Cat's arm, leaning toward her. He stared into Cat's wide and scared eyes, and then touched his lips lightly to hers. She jerked back in reaction, like a lightning bolt hit and shook her. Chris raised back, shocked by the terrified look in her eyes. 

"Oh my god." She was up and running back up to the house faster than he could blink. 

Chris jumped up, running after her. He reached her before she could go through the back door. She started to scream and he cupped a hand over her mouth. He pulled her to the little patio to the left of the house.

"Relax, don't scream. I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have kissed you."

"Well gee, thanks." Cat said with a roll of the eyes. 

"Huh?" Chris asked looking very confused. "I thought you were scared."

"I-I am." Cat whispered, looking down. "I've never....I've never kissed anyone before." 

Chris, in a moment, took Cat from around the waist and planted the most passionate kiss he had ever given someone. His tongue slid between her parted lips. She gripped his wife beater in her fists, panting as he kissed and sucked at her neck. 

Catherine was in perfect bliss, in absolute heaven. She closed her eyes and held on to Chris like at any moment, she might float away. When a twig snapped nearby, she jumped, turning around in a flash. A shadowed figure moved against the trees. Catherine could have sworn in that moment, her heart stopped and her mind froze. 

Chris brought her out of the frozen state. He grabbed her, planting a gun and keys in her hand. He screamed at her to run and she took off like the bullets that started flying by herself and Chris that was right behind her. When she was in the garage running toward the door it swung open and out popped the operator. 

He threw the bags and Megan in the back floor board, and helped Catherine in the driver's seat. She gunned the engine and roared out of the garage in the Explorer. 

Chris ran like he had in basic. His gun was loaded as he dove into the passenger seat where Catherine was screaming at Megan to stay down and trying not to let the tears that were flooding her eyes block her vision as she roared down the dirt road. When she got to the fork for the interstate, two sedans blocked the way. Without a thought, she heard Chris screaming. She heard Megan screaming and crying in fear. With a determined look, she gunned it once more and blasted through the cars with a squeal. 

Chapter 3

After fifty-three point eighty-four miles, Catherine still wouldn't stop. She need clothes other that her boxer shorts and tank top, Megan needed something to eat and drink, and Chris needed a shower. She still refused to stop. 

Chris pleaded for another hour before she stopped. She parked the car behind the Inn, got a bag and Megan, and then rushed inside the hotel room Chris had just purchased. Chris went in the bathroom and jumped in a hot shower. Catherine fixed a pouch of the instant coffee from the counter in the room and helped Megan into a clean pair of sweat pants and t-shirt. She was asleep on the bed before Catherine had turned her back. 

Catherine got a pair of jeans, navy sweatshirt and changed. A few minutes later, Chris came out of the bathroom dressed in a pair of Wranglers and a brown t-shirt. He got a cup of the coffee Catherine was sipping at on the bed. She was also scribbling furiously on a tablet of paper.

Chris sat down on the edge of the bed, sipping at the nasty ass coffee while he called the operator back a hundred miles ago. The man assured him that everyone was safe...the others dead. They hadn't carried a wallet, of course, nothing was known as of now about them. 

After the phone call, Chris refilled his coffee cup. He stole a glance at Catherine and saw that she was staring at him. He smiled and she smiled back. His thoughts turned to last night's 'activities' and he looked away. What was he thinking? She was cute, yes. She was also his responsibility. If he screwed up, it wasn't just his badge. It was her and Megan's life. With that thought, his breathe caught and anxiety filled his stomach. He wouldn't let either of them to get hurt. His life would end first. 

"You ok?" Cat's voice penetrated through the anxiety fog in his head. He looked up, smiling. She smiled back, still concern clouded her eyes.

"Yeah, suffering from this nasty ass coffee you made." She pretended to be hurt.

"Well, see if I ever do anything for you." 

Oh the things you could do for me. Chris nearly slapped his self as words filled his head. What the hell was he thinking? God, he needed to get laid, badly. How was he supposed to survive the trip with her? 

"You look like shit." Cat said, breaking through again. He chuckled, taking a swallow of coffee.

"You aren't so hot yourself." Really, she did. Her jeans were nice and snug, capturing her figure great, same as the tight sweatshirt she had on. Her hair was in tangles and matted like a lover's hand would. 

"Gee, I know not to seek compliments either." She smiled and her smile made him smile too. 

"Oh, you want compliments?" He asked, laughing. "Well, if I ever need a roadblock tore apart, I'll come to you. Better yet, if I need another ten years taken off my life."

"Wanna make it fifteen?" She asked, laughing. 

"I don't know, do I?"

"I don't know, you really wanna get a heart attack from that coffee?" 

"I might..." 

They both laughed. The sound of the cheer and joy filled the room. For a few minutes, Catherine Lea Kelly was happy for the first time in her long and rough life. 

Chapter 4

It was around nine when they left the hotel. Chris insisted on driving. Really didn't see any road blocks in the future.

"If you do, you let me drive." Catherine had added with a serious yet joking tone. To Chris, that was one of her many talents.

Outside of Massachusetts they stopped at a Denny's. Megan woke long enough to eat some chicken fingers and fries. Cat and Chris both got the Grand Slam breakfast. They shared the morning paper, ate a piece of carrot cake, and then got back to the task at hand. 

When they had finished, he back in the driver seat. Catherine got the DVD player out and put a movie in for Megan. She got her coloring book and crayons and sat it out in case she got really bored. When Cat was seated again, he backed out and got back on the interstate.

"So, where exactly are you taking us?"

"A safe house." Cat rolled her eyes. Apparently, she had heard that before.

"Yeah, got that. Where?"

"Another state and somewhere by the west coast." She sighed. He winked and smiled at her. She just rolled her eyes.

The next operator was a lean, tall and handsome man. He served in the marines until he was twenty-six, then retired to the FBI. He made friends in the local law enforcements and helped with witnesses, like Megan and Catherine. He opened the door for them, moving aside to let them in. 

"My name is John, anything you need, just let me know." He shook Chris's hand, then Catherine's. 

Catherine liked John. He seemed like the strong silent type of guy. After shaking hands, he led them through the house to the kitchen. A door was right behind the back door. Down the stairs and you were in the basement. Another door was hidden behind boxes. In there, was a full size bed with clean white sheets and a smaller bed in the corner. In the opposite corner was a small room-the bathroom.

"There's extra blankets in the closet over there, paper, envelopes, pens-all of that in the desk. Anything else, just send a holler. Oh, and dinner is at seven, I'll come down."

Catherine set her three bags on top of the desk. Chris sat his by the door. She flicked the light on in the small bathroom and saw that is was actually decent. She started the water and went back to the bags. She had packed a few things to make it feel better for Megan. She got out her footy pj's, a bottle of bubbles, and the small bag of toiletries. 

She poured some of the bubble bath in the water and watched it foam up, then she turned the water off. She closed the door, and undressed Megan and stuck her in the tub. In the bag of toiletries was a small bag of bath toys for Megan. She unzipped the bag and gave them to Megan. She smiled and started splashing around. 


Just One of Many Pt. 01



Chris watched as Catherine smile at Megan, getting splashed with the soapy water. The sweatshirt she was wearing, was soaked in a matter of a few seconds. She laughed with Megan, splashing back. When she had finished, Catherine washed her matching long black hair, her fragile frame, then dried her off and dressed her. 

When she was dressed, she ran out and rose up her arms to Chris. He stared at her, then looked up at Catherine. She was frozen at the door with the towel hanging from her hands. Chris cautiously picked her up and held her on his chest. She squealed in delight and he managed a smile. She held his shirt in her tiny fists and smiled at him. He saw so much of Catherine in her face. 

Then, the word came out of that small mouth and shocked them all but Megan who stared at him with a smile.

"Daddy!"



Just One of Many Pt. 02



I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story. Here's another dose! 

Chapter 5

It shocked them both. Catherine dropped the bag and the towel. It sounded like a bomb in the silence of the room. Chris nearly dropped Megan had she not been clinging to his neck, he would've. 

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" She screamed with delight, smiling happily. 

Catherine was the first to respond. She grabbed Megan from Chris's arms and got out her coloring book and crayons. She sat her on the bed and gave it to her. Catherine and Chris stood there staring at each other for a long time until a knock on the door broke through. John appeared, telling them dinner was ready. They followed him back upstairs and sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen. Chris sat across from John, beside Catherine and Megan sat beside her. Mashed Potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, bread, and pork chops occupied the table. All in matching blue and white bowls. Catherine raised her eyebrows. Since when did men care about dishes?

"I do have a wife. I have her leave when there are....visitors." John answered her question without knowing it. Cat nodded and fixed Megan and herself a plate. 

"So..." Cat broke the silence a few minutes later. "Why do you do this?"

"Do what?" John asked. 

"This. Helping the witnesses."

"You answered your own question Ms. Kelly." He answered. 

"You can call me Catherine."

Catherine? So he was the only one allowed to call her Cat? What was that supposed to mean? Maybe she felt the same way as him. Maybe she just figured he should call her Cat since it was a mouth full like Catherine. He should have liked a mouth full of 'Cat'. He still couldn't believe Megan had called him Daddy. It was understandable though, in a sense. She had never really had a father figure, or had she? Had there been men in Cat's life? Sure she hadn't been with a man before, but of course she had dates. What teenage girl doesn't date? A girl who grew up too fast.

At the end of dinner, they retreated back to the basement. Cat got her pad and pen, flopped down on the bed and started writing. Chris sat at the desk and wrote in his own green hard covered book. When Catherine noticed this, she closed her book and laid it down on the nightstand table. She got up quietly and walked up behind him. She shrieked as he grabbed her by the arms and pinned them at her sides. Their eyes met. 

"You shouldn't sneak up on people. It could get you hurt some day." Cat merely nodded and he let her go. She rubbed at her wrists. "Did I hurt you?"

"A little."

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to." She nodded again. 

She pulled up another chair on the other side of Chris and looked at him.

"What do you write?" He smiled. 

"Wouldn't you like to know." 

"Yeah, I would." 

"I keep a journal." Cat smiled.

"Really?"

"Yep." He noticed her book on the table. "What do you write?"

Catherine got up and went to the table. She picked up her tablet and brought it back. She turned the page she had written that night at the first house. With reluctance she handed it over. Chris took it.

I sit here looking out at the moon, the garden is full of color I wish in my heart that is over soon, But I know that this is for the better.

I know I will make it, but I still feel the fear

He didn't read the rest of it. Chris looked at Cat sitting in the chair in front of him. Without thinking twice about it, he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She buried her head in his neck and the sobs rocked her body against him. 

"You're gonna get through this, Cat, I promise. I won't let anything happen to either one of you." He whispered into her hair. 

Chris pulled her up to look at him. He cupped her face in his hand. Tears rolled down her face and her cheeks were a rosy red. Snot trickled out of her nose. He got a clean white handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. Putting it at her nose he said 'blow' and she did. He cleaned her up and hugged her again. 

"I promise." 

To Catherine, that was the best thing she had heard in years. 

Chapter 6

The next morning, they left early. They had to be in Concord by nine that night. If they weren't there, the operator was to call the station back in Mainsville immediately and they were to think the worst. Megan was still asleep in the back seat, Catherine was in sweats in the passenger seat and Chris sipped at a hot cup of coffee.

"What music do you listen to?" Chris asked, looking over at Cat. She looked up from dragging eyelids. 

"Country and rap."

"Odd combo. I think I got some rap in here."

He pulled the visor down in front of him and pulled out a CD then stuck it in the player. He put it on the third track and turned it down. Bass rocked the speakers and Cat knew the artist instantly.

"Like fifty cent?" Cat nodded, lipping the words as she stared out the wind shield. 

Catherine sighed but still sang and wiggled around in her seat. Chris misunderstood that for nervousness. He put his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. She smiled the best she could.

"We need to stop." She blurted out.

"You just used the bathroom. We're on a tight schedule."

"Why when you get in a car with a guy, do they think they have full control over your bladder? Is there a consent form I signed and just don't remember it?" Chris laughed. 

"I don't know, did you?"

"I don't think I do. But hey, if you say so. But you really need to stop."

"For what?" He asked, the aggravation in the voice. 

"Do you want pee on your seats?

The tires squealed as he gunned it to the gas station across the road. Cat had to laugh. Once everything was taken care of, they got back on the road. Catherine and Chris sang along some more to the CDs he had. Eventually though, sleep overcame Cat and she fell asleep. 

Chris watched Cat. Her head would loll to one side and she'd snap back awake. The last time though, she simply slumped against the door and slept. Her facial expression was relaxed and unconcerned. Once, she whispered his name. He knew he exaggerated it. Why would she say his name? It was well after noon before she woke. When she did, she sat up with a very weird expression. 

"What the hell is this?" She asked indicating the radio. Chris laughed. "Is this like a CD of old people songs?"

"Hey! This is good music, alright. Don't make me pull this car over."

"And just what would you do if I made you pull the car over?" She gave him a smile and he cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.

"You ok?"

"Peachy." Cat smiled.

"Yeah, you look just peachy to me." Chris's lips broke out in a smile. 

It was eighty forty-five when they arrived at the next operator's house. It was like the first. Woods surrounded it, a small pond in the back and it was an old two story house. They were given a small room on the top floor of the house. It contained a twin bed, a full bed, a dresser and a desk. Pretty much the same as the last house. The both beds had quilts folded on the foot and clean white sheets. Megan fell asleep in the small bed while Catherine was in the shower.

"Well...let me go get some quilts and I'll make a pallet on the floor." He headed for the door.

"Wait." He paused and turned to look at her. "Why don't you just sleep in the bed with me?"

Chris raised his eyebrows. "You sure?" 

"Yeah." 

"What side do you want?"

"The one opiate of the door." She stated, making Chris smile. 

"I should've guessed." 

He pulled out the sheet, helped her pull the quilt over the bed, and then got under the covers. Cat did the same. He shut the light off and they were left in the dark. 

"You don't kick or anything when you sleep, do you?" Chris asked. 

"I don't think so. I'm not gonna promise though." Chris chuckled. "We're gonna make it, aren't we?" 

"Yes. You're gonna make it to the safe house. We're gonna catch Tyler. Then you can go back to your life again." And I'll lose you.

"How can you be so sure?" She whispered. 

"Because I know. I don't make mistakes. They end up costing someone their live. I'm not going to let that end be you or Megan." 

"Why do you care so much? You don't even know anything about me. Or Megan." 

"I care about you Catherine, that's all that should matter."

"Why?"

"Because I do!" He nearly shouted. "Go to sleep." 

Chris rolled over, putting his back to her. Why did she have to be so damn pushy? He was saving her ass, keeping her safe, that's all that should matter. 

"Chris?"

"What?"

"You like me, don't you?" The question made his chest tight. For a moment, he didn't breathe. When he didn't answer, she answered for him. "You do."

"You're my witness. And you're still a teenager."

"I won't always be your witness. I grew up faster than a lot of teenagers do. I don't think you can use my age as an excuse." 

"Why would you ever care if I did like you?" He turned over and looked at her. "I'm twenty-four years old. You're nineteen. That's-"

"Four years Chris. Four years." She sighed. "Not that big of deal."

"Ok, but still, you're my witness."

"And? I'm not going to be your witness forever."

"You have a kid." That's where Catherine clamped her mouth shut. 

"You don't like kids?"

"Yes, I do. But you keep getting pushy I'm gonna make up some excuses."

"You'd make up excuses so you can keep denying it's possible a relationship would work." 

"No..I didn't mean it that way."

"That's the way you said it."

"It didn't come out right." 

"Well, why don't you tell me what you did mean?" 

"Cat...I do like you. I want to be with you. What kind of man would I be if I did that though? You...you have enough to worry about. You don't need some guy like me to add to it." 

"Maybe I need something to keep my mind off of it." Cat whispered in return. He swallowed and looked over at her. 

Cat rolled over, resting a hand on his chest. He took her in his arms. She looked at him, then slowly leant down, tasting his lips with her own. His tongue searched out hers between their lips. Only when they heard a cry from the corner did they break apart. When cat looked over, she saw Megan in the fetal position, crying in her sleep. Cat got up, going to her. She stroked her hair, cooing soothing words for her. When she had calmed and was in pleasant dreams again, she returned to Chris. 

Chris really couldn't believe Cat would want to be with him. When she came back to bed, she cuddled up against him and he held her close to his side. Her head rested on his shoulder. 

"I like you too, you know." Chris smiled. 

"No, I figured you French kissed all of your friends." Cat punched his arm "Ow!"

"Oh, go to sleep."

"Why don't you?"

"I am." She whispered, closing her eyes. A few minutes later, she was breathing softer. 

Chapter 7

When Catherine woke, she heard the sound of the shower running. The sun shone bright through the window in front of the window. She rubbed at her eyes and groaned. Chris walked out in a towel, tied around his waist. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She got up from the bed. Her hands found his face and she gave him a good morning kiss. He smiled again and kissed her cheek.

"Morning sleepy head." She smiled and sat on the dresser. 

"What time is it?" 

"Around eleven I'd guess. We gotta get going pretty soon." Cat nodded and got up. She grabbed a pair of jeans and t-shirt, going to the bathroom. 

A few minutes after she got in, she heard the door open. She poked her head out the curtain to see who it was. Chris smiled at her from the sink. 

"I gotta shave, you mind?" She shook her head and went back to her shower.

"Hey!" She called out a few minutes later.

"Yeah?"

"Can you go out so I can get dressed?" In response, she heard the door open, then close. 

She stepped out, dried off then got dressed. When she came out, Chris went in and continued shaving. Cat woke up Megan and got her dressed then took her downstairs. Chris came down and they ate together then got a cup of coffee, and hit the road again.

"How much longer do we have to do this?" Cat asked after three hours. Chris smiled.

"We get to Indianapolis, Indiana, which will be in three days. There, we go to an operator, who will take up to an airport. We get on, fly to place we're going. Another operator picks us up, takes us to a check point where a FBI agent with escort us to the safe house. We stay there for a limited time of six weeks. If it takes longer to get this thing straightened out, we go to another safe house."

Cat stared at him. "I could end up living for years in safe houses all over the country, Chris. What kind of life is that for a two year old?"

Chris took her hand. "It won't be that long. I know we'll catch him. Don't worry about that, Cat. You should worry about keeping Megan occupied and doing your best to occupy yourself with something, like your poetry. Let us worry about everything else."

"Easy for you to say." She mumbled. 

"I'm the one who is going to be taking the bullet for you if it comes down to it, think that's easy?" Cat turned her head away from him. Of course it wasn't easy.

"What's the safe house going to be like?"

"You have a lot of questions, don't you?" Cat smiled. 

"Sure do." Chris smile, kissing her hand.

"Well, this one, is like a log cabin. Has the main floor with a small living room, a kitchen and a bedroom. Then there's stairs in the living room that go upstairs. It's completely open. And that's the other bedroom."

"Does it have a fireplace?"

Chris laughed. "Yeah, there's one in the living room." 

"What about the FBI agents and all that?"

"Well, there's gonna be twenty agents there at all times. Some just watched the outside from a long distance away from the cabin. There'll be me, always there with you. They'll be two agents that run into town or where ever for groceries and stuff like that, the others are outside details, and others will be in the house too."

"So basically, I'm gonna be surrounded by guys that I've never met before that will be with us all the time?"

"Pretty much. I'm sure they're all look a lot better than me. So, shouldn't be too bad." He gave her a wink and she smiled. 

"Are you going to be sleeping with me?" The coffee he took a drink of came back at him, making his cough and sputter.

"What?"

"At the safe house, are you going to be sleeping in the same room as me?"

"Oh, I guess. There are only those two bedrooms. The agents will probably take the upstairs room to share, it's pretty big. I'll stay downstairs with you." 

"Ok."

"Why'd you ask?" Cat shrugged. 

"Just wondering." Chris nodded. They sat in silence for the next hour. 

When it was around ten, Chris pulled over and traded with Cat. After she promised no crazy driving. He got comfortable in the passenger seat, resting his feet on the dashboard and leaning the seat back. 

"Yeah, make sure you get comfortable over there."

"Hey, I never said you couldn't do this," He mumbled with his eyes closed. 

"Good point I guess. Where am I going anyways?"

"Just find a cheap motel." 

"I'm capable of driving, you know."

"I know. But it's dark, you might miss a turn off. Just pull over and we can go some more tomorrow." 

"Fine." 

She swerved and pulled into a Motel 6. Chris went inside and got a room while Cat got Megan and the bags. He opened the door for her, taking the sleeping Megan and laying her in one of the twin beds. When they had changed and took showers, they got in the other twin bed. 

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"I want the other side. I don't like being this close to the door."

"Ok, scoot over here." He got up and switched her sides. 

"Can I scoot closer to you?'

In response, Chris moved up against her, an arm over her waist. 

"What do you think?" Cat closed her eyes and smiled. 

"Night."

"Good night sweetie, sweat dreams."

"You too." 

Chapter 8

"When's the next safe house?"

"Operator." Chris corrected. 

"Whatever it is. When is it?'

"In New York."

"When are we going to get there?"

"About another day. Probably be there by tomorrow night sometime. They don't worry unless it's well back tomorrow. We're actually ahead of schedule."

"What's after NY?" Chris looked over at her. 

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, you know that?" Cat smiled. 

Cat was in a gray pj's pants and his white button down work shirt. Her knees were up to her chest with a tablet on her lap and feet on the dashboard. Chris had been for a little over thirty minutes and in that time, he had glanced at her over a hundred times. She just looked so damn sexy in his shirt. 

"What can I say, I'm curious." Chris smiled. 

"When we get to New York, we got on a plane. We fly to Indiana. We got another operator. Then we go to the plane in Indiana, then I already told you that much." 

"So, where are we eating tonight?" Chris pointed to the KFC ahead. 

"There." He answered as he pulled in the parking lot. More greasy food, great. After they ate, they loaded back up and headed to a motel down the road. They did the usual routine and Cat put Megan to bed. 

When Chris got out of the shower dressed in some boxers and sweat pants, Cat was curled up with her tablet in the middle of the bed. What she was curled up in was what got Chris. Besides his shirt that met at the middle of her thigh, only panties covered her. He nearly turned around back to the bathroom if she hadn't looked up and smiled at him. He tried his best to smile back. Cat moved over when he came over and laid down next to her on the bed. They smiled at each other, then looked around everywhere except for the other person. Until Cat finally spoke did it break the silence. 

"Chris...." She whispered. 

Chris grabbed the tablet, throwing it in the floor. That was the word he needed to hear. He rolled her over onto her back, pinning her hands against the mattress with his, his body pinned her's. Chris's lips parted, his tongue doing the same to hers. During his attack, Chris could feel Cat's hands holding and pulling mercily at his shirt. Her fingernails dug into his shoulder blades as her body withered in need under him. He couldn't go that far with her though. Not in some hotel while she was running for her life, she deserved better than that. She deserved better than this. With that thought in his head, he pulled away from her panting body. She stared at the ceiling with wide eyes. 

"I'm-"

"Don't. I don't have regrets. Don't treat me like I do." She interrupted. "Why do you defy me? Am I not good enough?"

"What? God, no." He said, shocked. "You deserve better than me. Better than on your back in some crappy hotel."

"Maybe I like being with you. Did you ever think about that? Maybe I want to believe you're more than what I deserve." That stunned him. 

Chapter 9

When Cat woke in the morning, she completely ignored Chris at the desk. She went about her business. She took a shower, curled her long hair, brushed her teeth and got dressed. A pair of tight jeans and a Steelers' jersey was her choice of appeal. Screw Chris, he could think whatever he wanted. He could defy her all he wanted. She decided she didn't care anymore. The truth though, was in her heart. She cared with all her heart and soul. When she was ready, she focused all of her concentration and energy on Megan. She dressed her, and fixed her hair into two little braids. For a two hair old, she had a lot of hair. 

Chris could tell that Cat was upset. She hadn't said one word to him since she got up an hour ago. She did look damn hot though. That jersey looked like it was just dying to be pulled off the way it clung to her curves. When they got in the truck, she turned to the window and her tablet. He was now just the invisible guy driving. Great going.



Just One of Many Pt. 03



Chapter 10

The days past by slowly. Cat wrote, Megan watched DVD's, and Chris drove. They didn't talk. They didn't sleep together. When they stayed at an operator's house, or a hotel, he slept on the floor or a chair. No longer did they touch. That was getting to Cat. 

Cat regretted blowing up and dragging it out. She wanted to feel Chris against her again, she wanted his lips and his hands. With him, she knew someone cared. Without him embracing her and treating her as if she had some disease, she felt broken. As she sat on the hotel bed, she started to cry. Megan was asleep, Chris was out getting dinner. And she was crying. 

When Chris opened the door, he did it quietly. He wasn't sure if Cat was asleep or not. Honestly, with things were going, he had no idea whether she was even tired. She may have been ready to run a marathon. He didn't have any clue. 

Since that night, he had been kicking himself in the ass. Looking over what he said, he basically said she was a slut. 'On your back in a crappy hotel' what the hell was he thinking! She hadn't ever kissed a guy before him and he was calling her a damn slut. God, what the hell was he thinking? 

At night he kicked himself even harder. He could be sleeping with her in that bed, but oh no, he had to be an idiot. Now he was stuck on the hard ass floor. 

When he opened up the door and walked in, he saw what Cat was doing. And it sure as hell wasn't sleeping. Her body was curled into a ball on the bed, shuddering as she cried. He sat the food down on the counter, letting his coat fall on top of it. Walking to her, she finally became aware of his presence. She sat up, wiping furiously at her eyes. 

"Shh-Shh, come here." He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. "Shh, it's ok. Shh."

Chris held Cat that like that for over an hour before she was just a snotty, red cheeked, hiccupping ball against his chest. He got out his handkerchief and wiped her cheeks then her nose. 

"You're ok, sweetheart. Calm down, it's alright." He whispered, cooing soothing words and stroking her hair. 

When she had stopped crying, and hiccupping, he laid back with her against his chest. She struggled for a few minutes, uncomfortable until he held her still. Then she just lay tense against his chest. 

"I'm sorry...for what I said. I didn't mean to incline you're a slut, or anything like that. I just meant that....that you....you deserve a lot better than me. I could die any day, you....you shouldn't carry that burden. That's all I really meant."

It took so long for Catherine to answer that he thought she might have fallen asleep. Or that she just didn't want to discuss what had happened earlier. 

"I didn't think you meant it that way. I'm sorry I've ignored you."

"Nothing to be sorry for. I did the same thing to you." Chris whispered. 

"Are we over the blowing each other off thing then?" Chris nuzzled his head in her hair. It smelt of strawberries. 

"Yeah, I think we are."

"I missed you in bed with me." Chris smiled against her hair. 

"I missed it too. I hate that hard-ass floor." 

That same time the next night, they were driving to the airport. After three hours on a plane, they were driven to another operator. This one was much crappier than the others. That's because it was a police station. 

In a back room were four bunk beds. Each had a plain pillow and green blanket. That night, none of them slept that great. 

The next morning, around four, they were up again. They boarded a plane and flew to Seattle. It was second time that Catherine cried. 



Chapter 11

At eight in the morning on a Thursday morning, in February, things changed. Chris, Catherine, and Megan were driven in a black Sedan to the country woods of Seattle. The weather was horrid. Megan was curled against Catherine's side, watching SpongeBob. Catherine was nodding off, dark circles under her eyes, and her hips were aching. 

To Catherine, Chris looked like he was just peachy. Under the skin though, she couldn't be more wrong. He was more stress than he had ever been. To him, he never wanted Cat to leave his side. Under that, he was scared she would change her mind later on. Under that, he was worried about what kind of father figure he'd be. Above all of that, he was scared that she would die on his watch. If that happened, he knew he wouldn't be able to live with the guilt and regret.

When they had driven about four miles, or deeper into the woods, they reached a log cabin. A-framed and two stories. It was surrounded by nothing just trees, trees, and more trees. Agents surrounded the house, some hidden, some not. When they walked through the door, three agents sat in the living room, a coffee table in front of them with stacks of paper covering it. 

An agent in a black suit carried the bags to a room off the kitchen. He motioned for Catherine to follow. Another agent took Chris to the kitchen table. He didn't give her a second glance as she walked by, carrying Megan. The agent let the bags fall to the floor, and shut the door behind him as he stood at the door. Catherine stared at him.

"Is there something else?" Catherine asked. 

"Ma'am, there are some things you need to know." 

"My name isn't ma'am, sir." His lips upturned and Cat had to smile. 

"Ms. Kelly, you are here for your own protection. And your daughter's. May I be frank?"

"Go for it."

"As far as fucking your Witness Agent, it stops now." Cat's jaw dropped. 

"Excuse me? What in the hell makes you think I'd spread my legs for a man I've known less than a month?" Cat walked to the door and snatched it so fast, every head turned to look. "And as for your thought on my personal life, you can keep your frank little ass, out of it!" 

A few snickers sounded the room, the crying of Megan and Cat's hard breathing. The agent glanced down before returning her gaze. 

"Ma'am, I don't care what you did before here. I'm just telling you the fact of it is, it stops here." Cat tightened her fists at her side. 

"And sir, I'm telling you, that the next word out of your mouth that concerns myself and any male, will result in the hardest kick of my life to a region that would hurt quite badly on your body." With that the agent walked out the front door.

Cat was still steaming when Chris came into the bedroom about an hour later. He kicked off his shoes, let his coat fall on the dresser and flopped down on the bed. 

"Do you understand what held me back now?" He whispered. Cat turned over, looking at the ceiling. 

"Yeah."

"I liked what you said, nice." Cat smiled. Chris turned over, crawling up beside her. He leant over her, his lips brushing hers softly. "I'm resigning as your Witness Agent." 

Cat stared at him, open mouthed. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means, that I no longer am at liberty to worry about my work ethnics with you. If you want me, then I'm free to be yours." 

Tears welled in Cat's eyes and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Her lips pressed against his. He chuckled, wrapping her in his arms as well. Their lips crushed together, again and again. Until there was a knock on the door, they didn't break apart. Cat collected herself as Chris did the same, then went to the door. At the door, was a young agent, holding a stack of folders. 

"We'd like to the meeting now, sir." Chris nodded and turned to motion Catherine to follow. 

At the living room, three agents occupied the couch, including the one Cat had gotten heated over. One picked up a book, flipping it open. He held out his hand to Catherine, shaking hers briefly. 

"Ms. Kelly, I'm agent Dozal. I'm the team leader." Cat nodded, wringing her hands. 

"What exactly does that mean?" The man smiled.

"I organize the times of which each man is here. I worry about the security, things like that." Cat nodded. "Any more questions?"

"No, not at the moment." He nodded and looked to the next man, seated in the middle. 

"Well, I'm Agent Clarent. I basically worry about your medical care. I'm a certified doctor. I tag along to things like this to take care of the medical needs of the personal. So, if you feel sick, any pains, anything like that-I'm the one to come to." Cat nodded again.

"Does that include-" The man nodded. 

"Yes, feminine personal care too." She nodded again. 

"Ok." 

"Well, you already know me. I'm Agent Marks. I'm one of your body guards." He motioned to another man leaning against the fireplace. "That's the other. Of course everyone is looking out for you both, but we're the main ones." 

"So, we live inside the house all the time?" They all exchanged glances. 

"Basically. That's what we were getting to next."

"Do you have any family, friends, and boyfriends...anybody whom would miss your presences?" Agent Dozal asked. 

"No." Tears brimmed her eyes. 

"Are there any reasons why you would write mail, make calls, anything like that?"

"No." 

"Are there any special needs you have, or Megan has?" 

"I'm low on her food. She doesn't use bottles, but it is a baby oatmeal type thing. I'm really low and need more." Dozal got out a pen and wrote the necessity on a sticky note. 

"Anything else? Any medication, personal needs?" 

"No. Nothing." 

"Rules." Added the fireplace guy. 

"Don't go outside without a body guard. Don't open windows, or curtains. And, we ask you keep a good eye on the child." 

"That child as a name. It's Megan. And I will." 

With that, the meeting was over. 



Chapter 12

Catherine took a shower, then slipped into one of Chris's work shirts. She left the two few buttons undone, and didn't wear a bra under it. When she got to the bed, Chris wasn't there. For a second, she could still hear him in the living room, discussing plans with the others. She smiled, he cared. Whether it was just his job, or his true feelings, he cared. 

Cat pulled out her tablet again, laid across the bed, and started to write. After about twenty minutes, her tablet was on the bed, and her head was lolled on the pillow. 

Chris came into the bedroom, he was tugging at his tie, kicking off his shoes and throwing off his jacket. When he saw the sight in front of him, splayed across the bed, that changed. He finished taking off his tie, and his shoes. The jacket landed on top of the pile. He landed on top of Cat. 

When Cat woke, she was very confused. Her shirt was unbuttoned all the way to the bottom. Lips were trailing down to her belly button. She gasped at the realization. Her body withered, moving under his lips. 

"Awake?" Chris's husky voice broke through the sleepy fog. Her shifting was the answer. "Do you want me to stop?"

"God, no." She whispered. He smiled against her skin

His lips trailed back to her neck, sliding soft kisses down to her collar bone. From there, he moved to her shoulders. His teeth nipped at her shoulder bone, making her squeal. While his lips nipped at her shoulders, his hands slid down to her thighs. She jumped at the contact. 

"You ok?" She looked down at him, tears in her eyes. "Cat, if you're not ready, just say so. I'm not going to make you, honey."

"I'm not ready." Chris nodded, but the disappointment couldn't be masked. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, don't be sorry." He laid next to her, stroking his hand through her hair. She rolled over, laying her head against his chest. "Are you scared of it, or me?"

"What?"

"Are you scared of doing it? Like getting pregnant, that it'll hurt, things like that. Or are you scared of me? Are you scared I'm going to hurt you?"

"I know it's going to hurt. But I don't think you'll hurt me." Cat whispered. Chris nodded. 

"I do like rough sex though, Cat." Cat looked up at him. 

"What do you mean?" 

"The whole tying up, biting, that kind of stuff, I like doing that."

"Oh." Chris looked down at Cat. 

"Ever been bitten?" Cat shook her head. Chris lowered her head to her breast. 

"Not there!" Chris laughed.

"Babe, if I bite you on the neck, it's gonna be easy to see by anyone. Same with the shoulder. Has to be your breast."

"What about my leg or something." He shook his head. 

"No, breast." Cat shuddered and finally nodded. 

"Fine." She whispered. He lowered his head again.

He kissed the spot right above her nipple. His tongue moved over it as his lips sucked at it. After a few seconds of that, he sank in his teeth, capturing the skin. She whimpered, almost crying out but clamped a hand over her mouth. When he rose up, she was breathing heavily and a tear leaked out of her closed eyes. He used a finger to wipe it away. 

"You ok?" She nodded. "Hurt that bad?" 

"N-No." He smiled. 

"I don't remember you ever stuttering." Cat smiled. 

"Really? I always stutter."

"Mhm. That's gonna be a bruise in the morning." Cat looked down. 

"Remind me to check you for fangs in the morning." Chris laughed. 

"I didn't bite you near as hard as I could've. Trust me." 

"Oh really." 

"Yeah, really." 

"How hard can you bite then?" 

"Um well, I've bitten so hard before that I actually got past the skin and she bled."

"Ouch." 

"Nah, she actually came when I did it. She was really into it." Cat nodded, then looked away. 

"So, if I don't like the rough style, we can't be together?"

"Well, I could always go find some prostitutes. No big deal."

"What?!"

"I'm joking, Cat." He said laughing. She still stared at him. "I'm kidding. Relax."

"Mhm."

"Cat, don't worry about that, ok? I really like you, I can compromise with the sex part."

"Can you? What if we stay together for a while and I can't satisfy you?"

"Cat-"

"What if I can't Chris? How could you stay with me?" Tears were brimming her eyes now.

"Cat! Stop it!" She snapped her mouth shut. "Listen to me! No matter what happens with us, sex isn't going to ruin that. I promise."

"You can't promise that Chris, you can't promise that you'll always have the same feelings down the road."

"With you, I can." 

Cat couldn't help but wonder what exact feelings it was that Chris was having about her.



Just One of Many Pt. 04



Chapter 11

At eight in the morning on a Thursday morning, in February, things changed. Chris, Catherine, and Megan were driven in a black Sedan to the country woods of Seattle. The weather was horrid. Megan was curled against Catherine's side, watching SpongeBob. Catherine was nodding off, dark circles under her eyes, and her hips were aching. 

To Catherine, Chris looked like he was just peachy. Under the skin though, she couldn't be more wrong. He was more stress than he had ever been. To him, he never wanted Cat to leave his side. Under that, he was scared she would change her mind later on. Under that, he was worried about what kind of father figure he'd be. Above all of that, he was scared that she would die on his watch. If that happened, he knew he wouldn't be able to live with the guilt and regret.

When they had driven about four miles, or deeper into the woods, they reached a log cabin. A-framed and two stories. It was surrounded by nothing just trees, trees, and more trees. Agents surrounded the house, some hidden, some not. When they walked through the door, three agents sat in the living room, a coffee table in front of them with stacks of paper covering it. 

An agent in a black suit carried the bags to a room off the kitchen. He motioned for Catherine to follow. Another agent took Chris to the kitchen table. He didn't give her a second glance as she walked by, carrying Megan. The agent let the bags fall to the floor, and shut the door behind him as he stood at the door. Catherine stared at him.

"Is there something else?" Catherine asked. 

"Ma'am, there are some things you need to know." 

"My name isn't ma'am, sir." His lips upturned and Cat had to smile. 

"Ms. Kelly, you are here for your own protection. And your daughter's. May I be frank?"

"Go for it."

"As far as fucking your Witness Agent, it stops now." Cat's jaw dropped. 

"Excuse me? What in the hell makes you think I'd spread my legs for a man I've known less than a month?" Cat walked to the door and snatched it so fast, every head turned to look. "And as for your thought on my personal life, you can keep your frank little ass, out of it!" 

A few snickers sounded the room, the crying of Megan and Cat's hard breathing. The agent glanced down before returning her gaze. 

"Ma'am, I don't care what you did before here. I'm just telling you the fact of it is, it stops here." Cat tightened her fists at her side. 

"And sir, I'm telling you, that the next word out of your mouth that concerns myself and any male, will result in the hardest kick of my life to a region that would hurt quite badly on your body." With that the agent walked out the front door.

Cat was still steaming when Chris came into the bedroom about an hour later. He kicked off his shoes, let his coat fall on the dresser and flopped down on the bed. 

"Do you understand what held me back now?" He whispered. Cat turned over, looking at the ceiling. 

"Yeah."

"I liked what you said, nice." Cat smiled. Chris turned over, crawling up beside her. He leant over her, his lips brushing hers softly. "I'm resigning as your Witness Agent." 

Cat stared at him, open mouthed. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means, that I no longer am at liberty to worry about my work ethnics with you. If you want me, then I'm free to be yours." 

Tears welled in Cat's eyes and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Her lips pressed against his. He chuckled, wrapping her in his arms as well. Their lips crushed together, again and again. Until there was a knock on the door, they didn't break apart. Cat collected herself as Chris did the same, then went to the door. At the door, was a young agent, holding a stack of folders. 

"We'd like to the meeting now, sir." Chris nodded and turned to motion Catherine to follow. 

At the living room, three agents occupied the couch, including the one Cat had gotten heated over. One picked up a book, flipping it open. He held out his hand to Catherine, shaking hers briefly. 

"Ms. Kelly, I'm agent Dozal. I'm the team leader." Cat nodded, wringing her hands. 

"What exactly does that mean?" The man smiled.

"I organize the times of which each man is here. I worry about the security, things like that." Cat nodded. "Any more questions?"

"No, not at the moment." He nodded and looked to the next man, seated in the middle. 

"Well, I'm Agent Clarent. I basically worry about your medical care. I'm a certified doctor. I tag along to things like this to take care of the medical needs of the personal. So, if you feel sick, any pains, anything like that-I'm the one to come to." Cat nodded again.

"Does that include-" The man nodded. 

"Yes, feminine personal care too." She nodded again. 

"Ok." 

"Well, you already know me. I'm Agent Marks. I'm one of your body guards." He motioned to another man leaning against the fireplace. "That's the other. Of course everyone is looking out for you both, but we're the main ones." 

"So, we live inside the house all the time?" They all exchanged glances. 

"Basically. That's what we were getting to next."

"Do you have any family, friends, and boyfriends...anybody whom would miss your presences?" Agent Dozal asked. 

"No." Tears brimmed her eyes. 

"Are there any reasons why you would write mail, make calls, anything like that?"

"No." 

"Are there any special needs you have, or Megan has?" 

"I'm low on her food. She doesn't use bottles, but it is a baby oatmeal type thing. I'm really low and need more." Dozal got out a pen and wrote the necessity on a sticky note. 

"Anything else? Any medication, personal needs?" 

"No. Nothing." 

"Rules." Added the fireplace guy. 

"Don't go outside without a body guard. Don't open windows, or curtains. And, we ask you keep a good eye on the child." 

"That child as a name. It's Megan. And I will." 

With that, the meeting was over. 



Chapter 12

Catherine took a shower, then slipped into one of Chris's work shirts. She left the two few buttons undone, and didn't wear a bra under it. When she got to the bed, Chris wasn't there. For a second, she could still hear him in the living room, discussing plans with the others. She smiled, he cared. Whether it was just his job, or his true feelings, he cared. 

Cat pulled out her tablet again, laid across the bed, and started to write. After about twenty minutes, her tablet was on the bed, and her head was lolled on the pillow. 

Chris came into the bedroom, he was tugging at his tie, kicking off his shoes and throwing off his jacket. When he saw the sight in front of him, splayed across the bed, that changed. He finished taking off his tie, and his shoes. The jacket landed on top of the pile. He landed on top of Cat. 

When Cat woke, she was very confused. Her shirt was unbuttoned all the way to the bottom. Lips were trailing down to her belly button. She gasped at the realization. Her body withered, moving under his lips. 

"Awake?" Chris's husky voice broke through the sleepy fog. Her shifting was the answer. "Do you want me to stop?"

"God, no." She whispered. He smiled against her skin

His lips trailed back to her neck, sliding soft kisses down to her collar bone. From there, he moved to her shoulders. His teeth nipped at her shoulder bone, making her squeal. While his lips nipped at her shoulders, his hands slid down to her thighs. She jumped at the contact. 

"You ok?" She looked down at him, tears in her eyes. "Cat, if you're not ready, just say so. I'm not going to make you, honey."

"I'm not ready." Chris nodded, but the disappointment couldn't be masked. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, don't be sorry." He laid next to her, stroking his hand through her hair. She rolled over, laying her head against his chest. "Are you scared of it, or me?"

"What?"

"Are you scared of doing it? Like getting pregnant, that it'll hurt, things like that. Or are you scared of me? Are you scared I'm going to hurt you?"

"I know it's going to hurt. But I don't think you'll hurt me." Cat whispered. Chris nodded. 

"I do like rough sex though, Cat." Cat looked up at him. 

"What do you mean?" 

"The whole tying up, biting, that kind of stuff, I like doing that."

"Oh." Chris looked down at Cat. 

"Ever been bitten?" Cat shook her head. Chris lowered her head to her breast. 

"Not there!" Chris laughed.

"Babe, if I bite you on the neck, it's gonna be easy to see by anyone. Same with the shoulder. Has to be your breast."

"What about my leg or something." He shook his head. 

"No, breast." Cat shuddered and finally nodded. 

"Fine." She whispered. He lowered his head again.

He kissed the spot right above her nipple. His tongue moved over it as his lips sucked at it. After a few seconds of that, he sank in his teeth, capturing the skin. She whimpered, almost crying out but clamped a hand over her mouth. When he rose up, she was breathing heavily and a tear leaked out of her closed eyes. He used a finger to wipe it away. 

"You ok?" She nodded. "Hurt that bad?" 

"N-No." He smiled. 

"I don't remember you ever stuttering." Cat smiled. 

"Really? I always stutter."

"Mhm. That's gonna be a bruise in the morning." Cat looked down. 

"Remind me to check you for fangs in the morning." Chris laughed. 

"I didn't bite you near as hard as I could've. Trust me." 

"Oh really." 

"Yeah, really." 

"How hard can you bite then?" 

"Um well, I've bitten so hard before that I actually got past the skin and she bled."

"Ouch." 

"Nah, she actually came when I did it. She was really into it." Cat nodded, then looked away. 

"So, if I don't like the rough style, we can't be together?"

"Well, I could always go find some prostitutes. No big deal."

"What?!"

"I'm joking, Cat." He said laughing. She still stared at him. "I'm kidding. Relax."

"Mhm."

"Cat, don't worry about that, ok? I really like you, I can compromise with the sex part."

"Can you? What if we stay together for a while and I can't satisfy you?"

"Cat-"

"What if I can't Chris? How could you stay with me?" Tears were brimming her eyes now.

"Cat! Stop it!" She snapped her mouth shut. "Listen to me! No matter what happens with us, sex isn't going to ruin that. I promise."

"You can't promise that Chris, you can't promise that you'll always have the same feelings down the road."

"With you, I can." 

Cat couldn't help but wonder what exact feelings it was that Chris was having about her.

Chapter 13

In the morning when Catherine woke, it was around nine in the morning. She was on her back, an arm over her head. The shirt of Chris's was open on both sides, showing any and everything she had to offer. Chris was asleep beside her in only a pair of plaid boxers. He was on his stomach, one arm over the side of the bed. Catherine couldn't help but laugh as she got up.

A bathroom was adjoined to their room. It was quite big. It had double counter tops with a sink in each. A small window in one of the walls, was covered by a large curtain. At least back home she could open the blinds and windows if she wanted to. Being her was like being in a damn prison. 

Cat stood at the sink and brushed her teeth, washed her face, then started a bath. The water was nice and hot, the room was steamy in a few seconds. She let the shirt fall to the floor and stepped into the shower. 

The water on her skin was like renewing herself. When she let it pour over her, it was like she was letting the worry and stress from the night before just disappear down the drain. She was like a new woman when she got out. 

When Chris woke, spit was pooled at the corner of his mouth. He rolled over, moving a hand over his mouth in a lazy fashion. When he looked to the door, Catherine was leaning against the frame. A black tank top and tight jeans flattered her figure. He smiled and sat up on his elbows. She smiled back. 

"Well, aren't you just stunning." Cat smiled.

"You too, so sexy with spit on your chin." Chris laughed and wiped it away. "The plaid boxers are just beautiful too."

"So is that black thong." He motioned to waist. The top string was above the seams of the jeans. Blushing, she pushed it back down. "Come here, beautiful." 

Cat walked to the bed, sitting on the edge beside him. He pulled her back, planting kisses on her parted lips. His hands held her firmly against his bare chest. Her hands gripped at his back. Before long, she was moaning against his mouth. 

"Cat..." 

"Yes, yes, please." She urged, already tearing at her own shirt.

He helped her, ripping it right over her head. His lips trailed down, nipping at the skin as he worked on her jeans. He tore those off, letting them fall in the floor. She was left in the middle of the bed in only that black thong. 

Cat pushed at the waist band of his boxers. He helped her with that too, kicking them off. When she looked down, she took a deep breath. It finally hit that this was happening. 

Chris noticed her shaking form after he had removed her thong. He moved her up against the pillows easily. He kissed her quivering lips and chin. 

"I won't hurt you, baby." Cat nodded, trying to suppress the tears. "Are you sure? You can change your mind."

"No, no, I-I want this." Chris nodded. 

Chris kneeled between Catherine's spread thighs. She whimpered as he brought contact between them. He penetrated and tears washed her cheeks. Chris took her hand, holding tight in his own as he slowly withdrew and penetrated again. His lips hid the cries she couldn't keep back. 

When it was done, Cat's shaking body laid next to Chris's, her head resting on his chest. He laid a hand on her head, another on her bare side. His lips pressed against her forehead. 

"Are you ok?" 

"Yeah." 

"It's not always the best the first time. It gets better."

"That your way of getting me to do it again?" Chris chuckled. 

"Depends, is it working?" Cat smiled. 

"No."

"Damn," Cat smiled again. 

"How about some breakfast?"

"Sounds good." Cat got up, whimpering as she dressed. 

Cat left Chris on the bed. She went out to the kitchen where a few guys were watching TV. They were the ones who were off duty. 

She grabbed a few pans and started cooking.

On the table were a plate of blueberry pancakes, biscuits, bacon, eggs, and hash browns. The three guys from the living room, Megan, and Chris were seated at the table. A pitcher of sweet lemon tea sat in the middle. 

"Ms. Kelly, this is about the best damn breakfast I've had in many years." Agent Dozal said with a smile. Catherine smiled back. 

"Thanks."

All echoed the compliments and Catherine smiled at them. Everyone had second and thirds. For a few minutes, though it was a messed up one, Cat had a family. 

Chapter 13

Only twenty miles away, Tyler Mathew Carrier and his army of mob goons were sitting in a Denny's eating their breakfast of coffee. One of them, was Tommy Markson. He sat across from Tyler. He himself was twenty-eight. At the time of the murder, he had been twenty-six and made every pass he could at little fifteen year old Catherine. Only, she had made every effort to blow him off. 

"You can." 

"Are you sure, sir? She is your daughter."

"No, she's just some bitch who ratted me out now. She ain't nothing but some pain in my ass now. You can fuck the shit out of her as many times as you want." 

Tommy smiled at that. He'd make the bitch pay. She'd be bent over in agony by the time he was done with her. No hole would be unfucked. 



Chapter 14

Catherine laid panting on the bed, Chris stroking her hair beside her. Their second time wasn't the best, but it wasn't as bed either. At least this time, pain wasn't the only thing she felt. 

A sound rang in the distance and Chris was up out of bed, pulling on clothes. Catherine sat up, not realizing what was going on. 

"What, what's wrong?"

"Get dressed. Now!" With that, he pulled out a gun from the nightstand. A shot rang closer now, and a groan was heard. 

"Oh my god! No, no!" Catherine rushed, pulling on a pair of blue flannel pj's pants and one of Chris's shirts over her bra, buttoning it up. Megan was asleep in her bed. Cat picked her up, wrapping a blanket around her. 

Dozal busted through the door, holding another gun and looked to Chris then Cat. He motioned for Chris. Cat started to walk with them, but he stopped her. 

"Stay here. I'll put someone in front of the door. Just stay here."

With that, they were both gone out the door. Catherine stood there like an idiot, holding the baby in her arms. Finally, she got her wits, some of them anyways. She crawled on the floor, sliding under the bed and holding Megan against her chest with the blanket around her. 



Tommy stepped up the window, sliding it open and pushing apart the blinds. From where he stood, he could see Catherine's back. That little pain in the ass was beside her. 

When he slipped in, Catherine heard the footsteps. She withered around until she looked over at the window. Her eyes widened and she moved around, trying to get out from under the bed. 

Tommy smiled, taking his mask off. He was muddy and wet, but he was also something else. Catherine was fumbling around in the nightstand drawer, then appeared a gun. He had to smile. 

"Oh come now, honey. You aren't gonna shoot me." He stepped forward. The shook in her hand as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You even know how to shoot a gun? Know how to take the safety off?" 

"I know I'm not just going to stand here and take this shit anymore."

"Whooh! You've gotten feisty!" 

With a few quick movements, the gun was out of her hand. She was backed up and pinned against the wall, one arm across her throat, and the gun against her stomach. She closed her eyes and tears leaked out. 

"I've gotta tell ya, that just makes me want you even more." He whispered in her ear. His tongue flicked over her ear and she squirmed. 

Tommy pulled her over to the bed, ripping her pants off down to her thighs, and pulling his own down. With his own legs, he pinned hers to the bed. In a hard thrust, he was buried to her core. She cried out agaisnt his hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"Now, you see how easier this could've been if you hadn't have blown me off all those times? We could've had a lot more time for me to fuck you. Now, I gotta hurry. And I don't like to hurry." Each time he thrust, it was harder and faster. Catherine squirmed and cried, trying to hit the wall, anything she could to get someone to hear. 

When he had finished, Tommy got up and fixed his pants, leaving her on the bed, crying. 

"Fix your pants. Hurry up." When she struggled with them, he just leant over her and did it himself. 

He pulled her up off the bed, pushing her out the window where another guy was waiting. 

Chapter 15

The other guy, a regular she had seen around her house before, Mick, pulled her through the woods and to a blue ford explorer. He grabbed a rope from the bed, wrapping her wrists painfully together. A white pillow sheet was tied across her mouth, another across her eyes. After they pushed her into the back on her side, they ties her ankles together. 

Catherine rolled around the back of the explorer as they bumped along the dirt and rocky road of the forest. She couldn't help but be a little happy. Megan was still fast asleep, snug, under the bed. If Chris thought about it, he would know where she was. Bumping along the road, Catherine thought about her death, of what it would be like. Tommy would certainly rape her a few more times. Some of the others probably would. Tyler would beat her. By the time they were done, she'd probably be begging them to kill her. The only things she had to live for were Chris and Megan. Chris would take care of Megan, and Chris would find someone new. The thought of Tommy thinking he had taken her virginity brought a smile to her lips. 




Just One of Many Pt. 04



That smile disappeared in a flash when they stopped, dirt crunching under the tires as they did so. She was lifted roughly from a pair of arms, then dropped on top of three men's laps. She assumed she was in the back seat of a car. Hands roamed all over her body, some fondling her. She kicked and mumbled, just sounds around the gag. They all just laughed. 

"Honey, you're ours now."

Two hours later, she was thrown on a mattress. She was only in her underwear and bra. Every man in there had taken a piece of her. She was ready to start begging now. The only thought that kept her happy, that gave her hope, was the thought of being in Chris's arms and Megan being safe. Deep down, she knew that she would probably never see either of them again. They'd kill her in less than twenty-four hours. She knew how her dad operated. 

Not an hour passes by in peace when she heard the door open again. She expected to be raped again and just laid there waiting on them. 

"Well, I've seen you've grew up." It was a voice that sent a shudder through her body. All she could do was mumbled against the gag. 

Soft hands touched her face, pulling the gag away. Another pulled the blindfold off her head. She was left lying there, staring up at the man she despised more than dirt. He sat down next to her, pulling her against the wall into a sitting position. All she could do was stare. 

"Well, aren't you going to say anything." She opened her mouth to speak but winced and whimpered in return. Tommy hadn't been a nice as he was the first time. He had fisted her right in the jaw, splitting her lip open.

"I've been raped by everyone I used to call family. I've been beat. I don't have any dignity left. Call me crazy, but I don't think there's anything left to say."

"Megan?"

"What about her? What do you care?"

"How is she?"

"She's fine. Unless you took her too. Then I'd say she's in high danger with everyone here."

"No, no, we didn't take her. Just you."

"Do you even care what they did to me?"

"Do you care about what the men do to other men in prison?" Catherine didn't say anything. "Well then, there's your answer." 

"How do you expect me to feel? You killed my mother!" A hand reached out, slapping her head around. 

"Don't take that tone with me! Why do you think I killed her? She couldn't keep her damn legs shut, let alone her fucking mouth!"

Catherine pounced, still bounded. She sank her teeth into his neck and hung there. No matter the screaming, not matter the men who rushed in and tried to get him off her. She hung on like it was her lifeline. 

"You're a sorry son of a bitch! You deserve the bullet they're gonna put in your head!" 

Tyler whipped out his belt. He folded it over and slapped her across the face, then pulled out his gun. 

"Maybe you deserve the one I'll put in your fucking head!" 

"Maybe I do!" She shouted back. 

The men dragged her back to the mattress and handcuffed her arms above her head, gaged and blindfolded her. She was left in silence.



Chapter 16

Chris was going out of his mind. What was happening to her? Did they beat her, have they raped her? Was she even alive? That made his stomach flip over. God, what had they done to her? 

Not a trace of evidence gave a clue of to where she would be. How could they pull this off? How the hell had they pulled this off? He was going to lose his mind. That was all there was to it. 

"Do we have anything? Ransom, anything?" Chris asked, walking into the living room. 

"No, nothing." 

"He came in through the window and left footprints, left his mask. He's a mobster for God sake, he'd be in the system. All we need is one damn piece of evidence. He took both witnesses! We just sit here and hope they're ok!" 

"Chris, I think you got a little ahead of yourself."

"What?!" Agent Todd motioned behind him. When Chris turned, he's eyes brimmed. 

"Oh God!" Megan was standing in the kitchen, hugging a bunny rabbit to her chest.

She walked over, holding up her hands. Chris picked her up, clutching her to his chest. She buried her head in the crook of his neck. He stroked her hair, holding to him tight. At least one of them was safe. 

"We've got it!" Todd shouted, holding up a piece of paper





Chapter 17

Catherine laid on the mattress, her arms still cuffed above her head. If her math was right, she had been taken for almost twenty-four hours. She also figured that in this damp room, it was a basement. In just her underwear and bra, she would be sick in no time. 

"Well, hi there, honey." It was Tommy. 

"W-Water." She croaked. He came back, putting a straw at her lips. 

"Slow, or you'll puke. You puke, I'm beating your ass." She tried to go as slow as she could, but the cool water just tasted so damn good. "So, hungry?"

Catherine nodded. She couldn't see, but at least she had water. 

"Well, open your mouth." At first she figured food wasn't the thing he was going to feed her. But when she reluctantly opened her mouth, a sandwich was put at her lips. She gobbled it up in a matter of seconds. 

"Really were hungry, weren't you?" He whispered. Catherine nodded, swallowing the last of the sandwich. She felt his body against hers, then her arms were put back down at her sides. The pain and needles feeling made her groan in agony. Tommy chuckled. 

"It's funny that I'm in pain?" Catherine asked. Tommy leaned against her. 

"Did you think it was funny when you turned me down all those times?" 

"No, I didn't. Tommy, I just don't like you in that reason, and you're ten years older than me."

"So what! You're dad approved of it. All you had to do was say yes. Why didn't you even give me a damn chance?" 

"I just told you! I don't like you that way. You're a great guy, I just don't like you that way." 

In a second's time, Tommy was on top of her. He was tearing at her underwear. 

"Stop it! Get off me!" 

A shot rang out, deafen Catherine for a second. Then she felt hands, removing her blindfold. When she opened her eyes, Chris was staring back. Cat couldn't help but smile when she cried, wrapping her arms around him. 

"Hold on, let's get you covered up." He pulled off his jacket, wrapping it around her. 

"Thank god, I'm freezing." Chris's eyes brimmed again. 

"Did they hurt you?" Though he didn't say it, she knew what he meant. She nodded and he hung his head. "Cat I'm so damn sorry." 

She wrapped her arms around him and he did the same to her. 

"Chris, if you get me out of here, I'll forgive you." Chris smiled.

"Deal."

Chris picked her up, carrying her up the stairs and out the front door. In the driveway was a blue pickup truck. Chris put her in the backseat, across his lap with another agent driving. His eyes never left hers. 



Epilogue

The wedding took a month to plan. It was simple. Just the way that Chris liked things. They moved back to Catherine's house, making it their own. They bought a King size bed, making love in it every night. 

"Chris..." Catherine's head was on Chris's chest. 

"What, sweetie?" 

"I'm..gonna have a baby." Chris looked down at her. 

"What? A baby? Really?" 

"Yeah, really."

"Well, baby, it's gonna be just one of many." He leaned down, kissing her roughly on the lips.