Stepping Stones, Chapter 4 (Chad/Kay)
by WillowsAngel
 

Stepping Stones-4

Kay woke disoriented. An ocean of blue confronted her. It was the most comforting place she'd ever been in. It was strange really, she had a feeling that whoever's room this was, understood exactly the feelings of worthlessness she felt.

She stood up and almost cried. Her body hurt all over, she wanted a shower, but she didn't know where it was. For that matter, she didn't know where she was, or how she had gotten here.

No time like the present to find out. Kay walked out of the room. There was another bedroom across form hers. The bathroom was in the middle. Down the hallway Kay could see Chad standing in the middle of a living and Kitchen area.

She held her breath as he turned around. For some unknown reason she felt like she was a little kid getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Their eyes met and for just one instant, she could see the electricity between them. Chad tore his eyes away first.

"I thought you were asleep." Chad didn't understand what was happening to him. Kay Bennett had never affected him like this before. In fact he didn't even really like her, after she had spread that rumor about him.

"I was, I just woke up. Where are we?" Kay was confused. One minute Chad was saving her life and the next he could barely stand to talk to her.

"My grandmother's cabin. Julian brought us. It's a safe place. You can stay here as long as you like. There's even a phone." Chad watched as her mouth formed the shape of an O.

"Wow, Thank you. I can't believe you did this for me."

"Hey, it's ok. Besides I did get you fired and thrown out of your apartment." Kay smiled at Chad's attempt to lighten the mood and then moved closer.
"Well at least let me take care of your battle scars."

She looked pointedly at his hands and face. "Sit down, I've done this before." She carefully cleaned and bandaged him all of his wounds. She was about to stop when he winced as he tried to get up.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Chad, tell me, please." When he hesitated Kay began to pull off his shirt. Instead of stopping her, he got rid of it. Kay's knees went to jelly just looking at his chest, but she focused when she saw the big ugly bruise.

"Let me go get some ice."

Chad let out the breath that he had been holding. What was he doing, what was he thinking. This was the girl who had sent, "Charity" to hell. Why was helping her?

Kay came back and knelt down to apply the ice. By mistake she raised herself up to eye level. She looked up straight into his eyes. For just a moment she imagined what it would be like to kiss him.

God, she had beautiful eyes. Chad could feel his body begin to respond to Kay's closeness, but he couldn't pull back first. He saw Kay's gaze grow hungry for just one second. He groaned.

Kay immediately looked down. What was going on with her? She had never thought of Chad that way. He racing pulse and ragged breath were just a result of shock from tonight.

"All done." She jumped up and started to put everything away. She could feel Chad's eyes on her and that made her nervous.

"I'm going to take a shower and then to be." With that she left.

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It was hours later when Chad was woken by Kay's screams. He had taken a shower of his own and then fallen asleep. He jumped out of bed in only his boxers and ran into her room to find her shaking and screaming in her sleep.

"Make him stop, Make him stop." Chad shook Kay to wake her up and he held her tightly as her sobs continued.
He didn't think they were all about tonight. He held her until the sobs turned to whimpers and the whimpers to sniffles. When he thought she was fine he tried to get up. But he was held tightly by slender arms and a whispered plea.

"Don't leave me." Chad couldn't say no and wrapped himself around Kay.
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It had started out innocent enough. But then Kay saw Bobby. And he was in front of her, pushing her, touching her, hurting her. She screamed, but this time all she heard was laughter.

"Kay, darling, you're getting exactly what you deserve." Hecuba stood in front of the fires of hell.

"No, No, No. I'm sorry, please help me."

"Help you. Like you helped me." This time it was Charity standing in front Kay's friends and family.
"You sent me to hell Kay. Did you really thing you would get off that easily. No, not this time, NO one's going to help you."

Tears were streaming down her face. "Miguel, Simone, Jessica, Reese, help."

"Kay, I love Charity. I'll do anything she asks."

"Kay, you're a horrible older sister and a horrible person. No one likes you, no one will help you."

"Daddy, Uncle Hank, Noah. Make him stop." Kay's pleas were growing louder and more desperate. But instead of her father, Grace answered.

"Get out of here. You don't belong here. You're not our daughter. We don't love you. We love Charity, she's our daughter now."

"NOOO!" Kay's screams were louder and louder. Suddenly Chad was there and she clung to him. He held her and rocked her back to sleep. She didn't remember asking him to stay.

It just seemed natural to fit herself against his body. To feel his heart beat and the tiny breathing sounds he made. He made her feel safe.
 

When the first morning light shinned on the bed, Chad Harris and Kay Bennett were sleeping peacefully. Lying entwined in each other.

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"Oh dear Timmy."

"What is it Princess?"

"It seems that Kay Bennett has found herself a protector."

"What does that mean?

"I don't know, Timmy, I don't know."