~@~@ Fallen Ch. 26 Part I
I Disclaim
~~~

Kay didn’t know how long they walked; it could have been feet or miles for all the attention she paid to journey. She felt lost like she did that night; she knew she was outside, because she could feel the chill in the air, but I her head she was right back in her parent’s bathroom, starring at blank eyes that were her own, and willing the pain to stop. She didn’t realized that had stopped someplace until, she was being pulled down into strong arms.

“Shhh, it’s all going to be alright.” Antonio tried to make his voice as soothing as possible, even thought he doubted his words, for all his praise as her ‘rescuer’ he had never really seen her break, but he imagined this was what it was like before. Pale and shaken, and withdrawn into her self. He didn’t know what to do, he thought that maybe he should get Jody or Eve, but he didn’t dare leave her alone. “Tell me what’s wrong?”

“ Nothing…everything.” How do you explain to someone like Antonio, what had happened to her. How did you tell someone that your mother, your greatest enemy was now one of the only people that truly understood, what she went through, the pain that she held in check, when she was around others, and only released at night. “I don’t want to talk.”

“Okay, we won’t talk, we’ll just….” He words were cut off, as his felt her lips descend on his. These were lips he had spent nights dreaming of, but his dreams had been different, in the dreams they kisses were like the first one thy shared , gentle and with a hint of passion just bubbling underneath the surface. This was of pure desire, it left no room to the imagination, it was lust, fire and all consuming need, and would surely be the death of him.

‘This was good’ that’s all she was capable of thinking, that this was good, as long as she stayed in Antonio’s arms, lost in the storm of desire, she wouldn’t think of it. She didn’t hear a baby crying, or laughing, she couldn’t see a child in her minds’ eye that had her father’s smile, and Miguel’s eyes. She was safe here; there was no one here but her and Antonio, no memories, no nightmares. Nothing could get through the passion.

“Kay.” He started to pull away, but she only tightened her arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss. He wanted to speak but speaking wasn’t allowed, speaking meant thinking and feeling, and those things weren’t invited. Refusing to release his lips, she merely shook her head no, before let her lips trails down his neck.

She didn’t want to talk, okay he understood that, but he couldn’t just let her use him could he? But God did he want her to, she shifted against him and he groaned, oh if only it were that simply, but he knew this wasn’t about them. Any other time he would let her seduce him , til her little heart was content, but this was ignoring whatever had shaken her up, this was just an escape. She didn’t want to think so she would distract herself by kissing him, running her fingers through his hair, unbuttoning his shirt, and… damn where she learned this stuff. Fighting against the haze clouding his brain, he finally recognized was going on, he and Kay were in an empty security hut on the Crane property, and somehow without him noticing she had already managed to get him out of his tie, jacket, and was halfway to ridding him of his shirt.

“KAY stop.” Antonio backed up and held out his hands to keep her at a distance, knowing that if she got within an inch. Although from the look in her eyes, he suspected he was a goner anyhow. It was a patented Bennet ‘You’ve got no chance’ look, he had seen many time during his childhood, from Hank, but then this look had never cause him to feel light headed before.

“Are we ‘talking’ again?” Kay asked in a bored sand exasperated tone. How could he still be trying talk, just looking at him nearly shirtless, tousled hair, and lipstick down the side of his face and neck, had her itching to ravage right where he stood. “Fine, talk.” She sat down in a chair by the door, and looked at him expectantly.” Well?”

‘Well?’ How was he suppose to talk with her when she wasn’t even paying attention, she was taking off her those high heel shoes, and taking her time too, drawing attention to her long legs. He looked away and searched for something to take his mind off the woman in front of him, he found it in the form of a picture directly above her head, it was an old black and white photo of the Crane House in its early years, and it was just boring enough to kill so of the temptation. “Now look its no that I don’t want you or this, whatever this is. I just don’t think you’re in the right mind…” his words dawned on him he quickly met her eyes, and hurried to correct himself.” Not that you’re crazy…”

“I know what you meant Antonio, thought I’m sure there are those that would question my sanity, in wanting you, but hey… I live to be different.” She said as she stood, now much shorter then before.

“Yeah well it’s just that I think we should… slow…down… “He eyes caught a glimpse of what could only be white lace, through the slit on the side of her dress, and narrowed his eyes.” Is that a garter?”

“Yup.” Kay’s eyes filled with glee, when instead of accepting her answer, he closed the distance between them, and gently backed her up against the wall, letting his lips trail down her neck and collar bone. “Done talking?” In answer he kicked the chair out the way, and hoisted her on his hip, before he brought her head up to meet his kiss. “Good.”

~~~

“Ladies and Gentleman, our guest of honor and winner of the 2003 Stansfield Award Medical Advancements, Dr. Jody McKoy.”

The applauds started out slowly, so slowly in fact that Jody thought she might have a chance to make a run for it, but as if reading her mind her escort tightened his arm securing her by his side.” Oh I don’t think so Doctor, we’ve come too far now.”

Jody paled at his words, sure she talked a good game, but at heart she was simple country girl at heart, and being the spot light was not something she enjoyed, she could pull it off, she didn’t like the sick feeling she got in the pit of stomach. She looked up at the podium, and caught look that Eve gave her, and strengthened her back bone, there was no way in Hades she was backing down from Russell. “You’re right, let’s give the people what they want to see.”

Julian gave a genuine smile, as he led her to the main table at the front of the room. The girl was a complete mystery, shy and self assures, and just a little bit vindictive, going by the conversation with Eve that he overheard, she didn’t want to be here but she didn’t want to back down, and he respected that, even felt a smidgen of pride for knowing her.
 

When they reached the table she gave her date, a frosty look, which caused his sexy smile to fall right from his face. “If you have anything to do with this Bennet, you’re a dead man.”

“You’re not happy?” A small pout formed on his face, and he shot her a mischievous look.” I was kind of hoping that this evening would be a spring board into an easy seduction.” Julian gave a light chuckle that ended abruptly when he felt her heated glare come his way.

“Okay one…. Actually there are so many things worn g with that statement, that I can’t narrow it down to one, it would be easier to tell you what what’s not right with that statement, and that would be nothing.”

“Ahem.” They stopped their conversation and refocused their attention to the podium where Eve had paused to give a withering look that Jody barely acknowledges. “As I was saying, Dr. McKoy is a Queen’s Honor recipient form Oxford, and graduated number one in her class form Stanford Medical School.” “She finished her residency at University of California Medical Center where she along Doctor Patrick Wong, began working on the formula called ‘Certifen’.”

Jody felt her nervousness ease at as Eve continued talking, it was because of her accomplishment, it the reality that Eve Russell, her nemesis was reading them aloud. The thought that this was killing Eve, made the young doctor grin foolishly, and with a sick glee. “This night may not be so bad after all.”

~~~

Heaven, making love with Antonio was pure heaven, he had gotten rid of his shirt long ago, at her insistent, and she couldn’t be happier. Everything was perfect his lips, his hands….Rebecca Hotchkiss and some guy in the rose garden.” What… Dammit.”

“What’s wrong?” He pulled back concerned that he was moving to fast, he followed her line of vision, and realized she was staring opened mouth at the security monitors. “Isn’t that Gwen’s mother?”

“Yeah unfortunately.”

“Who’s that guy she’s with?”

Kay stepped out of his embrace and took a closer look at the television.” That would be Mort Something or other, the reporter that broke the story about Ethan being my brother.” They both watched transfixed as the young handed a magazine, before taking an envelope in return and walking off. “And that’s trouble.”

Antonio gathers up his clothes, and handed Kay her shoes, before he started to tuck in his shirt. “We should get back up to the main house, in case something goes down.”

She paused her hand on the door, and turned back to look at him him, giving him a sincere smile. “You know this naïve thing you’ve got going on is kind of sexy.” He looked at her confused.” If something goes down’, Hun you’ve been away too long, something’s definitely going to go down, the question is who’ll take the brunt of the hit.”

Wrapping his jacket around her shoulders, he took her hand and let her back toward the party. “You can narrow down your list of suspects on the way up.

~~~

Rebecca held the tabloid in her hand gleefully, she hadn’t only looked at it briefly, but what she saw was enough to keep her on cloud nine for the rest of her life. Victim number one was at the podium, unknowing praising her long lost child. She searched the room and found the other two quickly, and her grin widened, Julian and Jody were speaking in hushed tones, every once in a while smiling at each other. “Oh wouldn’t it be delicious.” Unfortunately she couldn’t, the story was probably making it way down the Associated Press wire, igniting shock throughout the world. Taking the small portable microphone form her purse, she turned it on waiting for the right moment.

“Certifen has since proven to be integral to the treatment of Grave’s Disease, and is on the brink of saving thousands of lives.” Eve concluded and waited for the applause die down, before she turned toward Jody and motioned for her to stand.” Ladies and Gentleman it’s an honor to introduce you to the winner of the 2003 Stansfield….”

“Jodyah Marie Crane.” All eyes riveted to the redhead in the center of the room, holding up a tabloid that screamed those very words, in a large bold print accompanying a spilt picture of Julian, Eve and Jody. “Take a bow Jody CRANE.”