Don't mess with her //Jack(Matthew)

[*]

The door slams in front of me, the picture of mom shaking just lightly from the force. I shake my head watching through the window at dad finally taking his leave from this house. I watch him with a hatred in my eyes when he gets to his car and starts it up. by the way the car moves, he jerks in in reverse and within a split second he hits the gas petal, the tires squealing from the amount of force he's pressing on it. I do nothing more but just stare at the bumper until his car is out of sight when he turns the next curve without stopping at the sign. Another fucking fight. You really wanna go there? You can't make her train. She's sick or is that what happened to mom? You didn't notice or you just didn't care?

"Yeah, that's right old man. Try to kill Kyanite, too. Go on and see how far you get if something happens to her. I told you, she ain't training..." My hand automatically swipes out at the curtains in frustration as they focefully swing away from where they just lay still just moments ago. Piss off, old man. I know better than to hit him or to really talk down to him cause I learned that from when I was a young boy. Challenging him never turned out well, but now that I can match him in both weight and height? I assume that's why he left, so that he wouldn't mess up his work uniform for the office. The amount of anger I feel boils inside of me. I can only imagine what he'd to do her if I had moved out already; making her get up despite being sick with a fever. That's abuse. He might be able to treat me like that, but not her. He's the one that taught me when she was born that I needed to protect her. Don't like me taking your advice?

"Make sure she gets up to train. I dont' care if she's ill. She'll work through it just like you did. Get her up and make her go!" My old man's words penetrate my ears again, echo'ing through my head, pissing me off even more. My responce was what he didn't like even though it was just the most commong and short answer ever. "Mom!" I knew how to beat him at his own game cause I know that deep down, he feels responsible for mom's death. It's the only reason he left without another word. That's what pleases me. I've found his weak spot.

I move from the livingroom up to the stairs and take them quickly, two at a time. Kyanite didn't seem to stir at all through the verbal lashing between me and dad, and normally that don't happen. She's always lingering when mom is mentioned, hiding around the corner listening to what we have to say and sometimes interrupting with her own judgements. I take it as a sign that she feels dad is responsible for her death, too. Though, I don't see her anywhere. "Kya?"

I walk down the hallway to her room and open the door, looking to the bed. The still bump is unmistakable that it's her and the way the covers are hardly moved from the last time I looked in on her, automatically tells me she probably was still asleep. Good. She don't need to hear me and dad fighting anyways. It's not fair to her. I walk over to the bed, looking down at her closed eyes. She's still asleep? That fact alone doesn't sit well with me. Three days ago she came home completely covered in snow and almost completely out of it when I found her on the porch. I've never seen her like that before.

Ever.

She didn't even fight me when I picked her up and I knew that something was wrong. Her tear stained face and soaked through jeans from the way she was sitting was enough to tell me what I didn't want to happen. It was that fucking guy, wasn't it? He hurt you? Though, she merely kept in silence for two days after that and the fever had set in that night. I told her twice, if he ever did anything to hurt her, that I would do something about it. Right now, the offer still stands.

"Kya. You feeling alright?" My voice lingers for moments at a time and then I see her eyes crack open; barely. I see her head move slightly but her eyes close again. "Yeah, right. Stubborn girl."

I bring my hand up to her face, my cold wrist touching her forehead and I can immediately feel the heat that radiates off her skin. "Damnit." Is my instataneous reply to that. I watch her face and she doesn't even cringe to the tone or the touch of my icy wrist to her face. Instead, she elicites a small moan as she begins to move and readjust herself in the bed. My hand goes straight to my head, roughly scratching at my head. This pains me so much to see her sick. The fever is what scares me though. Mom had a fever before she died and I'm bound and determinded to not let that happen to Kya. "He did this to you. I'm going to kill him." I"m pissed!

"Don't..." I hear her silent please, but I shake my head.

I turn away from her room, leaving to go get the medication I gave her two days ago when the fever wasn't that bad. Today it's worse and it's all because I let her go out yesterday to go see Gala. I'm at fault now. I told her not to go or she would get worse, but she was so determinded. So stubborn! She's just like mom.

I take the medicine back to her and make sure that the pill is gone before I pull the covers back up over her shoulders. My mission is being formulated in my head already. He will pay.

"I'll be back later, okay, sis? Just rest. I'm going to get Dr. Merrit." I tell her, but all I get in return is a silent moan. I leave her room, and once again take the stairs by two's and grab the keys to the truck. Soon enough, the tires are squealing but I'm not going for Dr. Merrit. He will come after what I have to say to that Matthew Dunham. I know where his father's company is and I know that he works there, too. Though, with his injuries from that pregames arena he'll either be at home or somewhere in town. Since, I have no clue where his house is, I'm going to be lucky if he's just wandering the town. "Where are you?"

((My apologies... this post is basically all reasons and motivation to go after Matthew))

[Jack Lexington]

MATTHEW DUNHAM


Like all the other days I spend today in bed only getting up for short periods of time because I find it incredibly strenuous. I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally because of my break up with Kyanite and the loss of the fight. For days I haven't talked to anybody but Tyren, whom I met yesterday at the pub. That was the one time I actually felt a little better but then I drank too much so today I feel even worse. Hung over on top of low down and sore.

As I stand in the bathroom in my training pants and a plaid shirt that's big enough to fit over the brace on my arm I take a long look in the mirror but the person looking back at me hardly looks like the guy I used to see. His face is pale with drak circles under his eyes, the expression blank, my hair is completely gone. I used to be the only guy around with long, blind hair because I always thought it suited my personality that didn't obey the rules too much but now it's barely existent making me one of so many guys out there with that same buzz cut. I look away because I can't stand the guy in the mirror anymore and instead of actually attempting to take a shower and get rid of the last crusts of blood that are still lingering on my body I go through my fathers liquor cabinet because yesterday the booze made me forget all this crap. Why not today again.
I find an old, expensive bottle of scotch and drink the first sip right from the bottle.
It burns its way down my throat but leaves a promise that it'll help take away the pain.
With one arm in the sling I hobble to the old arm chair that used to belong to my grandfather and cradle the bottle in my lap.
I twist and turn it in my 'good' hand thinking how the amber color reminded me of Kyanites eyes.
Silently I'm wondering how she's doing. Is she hurting or cursing me out for sending her away? Does she have any plans to come here to see whether we can mend things? Would I want that? More and more I keep thinking I would but apparently she has no interest in that since she ran away when the only thing is said was that I didn't want to be friends. I'd be a shitty friend anyway, just like I was a shitty boyfriend. I might be able to please her in bed but other than that I suck. Can't even win a damn fight. Maybe I suck in bed, too, who knows.
Another long drag from the bottle washes away my worries about my performance and leaves me slightly numb.
Outside the sun is pushing through the clouds. Maybe I should go out there. Yeah, why not?

Ten minutes later I got my coat and boots on to hobble in front of our door with the bottle in my other hand because I need the left one for the crutch that has become a steady companion...my only one.

The sun feels nice and warm on my pale features though and for a moment gives me a glimpse of how beautiful life could be if only I could feel it right now.

[*]

The steering wheel under my fingers feels hot considering how tightly I'm gripping the damn wheel. The only thing going through my mind right now, at this very second, is finding Dunham, and making him pay for whatever it was he did to Kya. I keep thinking that around the next corner or street sign, I'll witness him walking around or catch him on some porch bundled up to ward away the cold. "Fucking... you better hope that you stay out of my sight." I tell the road as I hit the gas going further into town. My vision has become that of a tunnel. I can only see ahead of me. One direction. I let go of the wheel and regrip it with my fingers until my knuckles turn white. With my free hand, I haul off and hit the steering wheel as I made another turn and the first corner of the town comes into view. Maybe he's going to be some lucky bastard and all I'll waste is just the gas in my tank.

When I don't seem to find him and Dr. Merrits place comes into view, I begin to weigh my options. Which one do I do? Fight for Kya? Or help her? It's basically a fifty-fifty shot right now. I take the option that is only one available to me. I hit my brake pullling into the parking spot in front of the building.

"I should have called over to Gala's to see if she would stay with Kya for a while." My concern goes to Kya for a moment since I left her at the house by herself. Need to hurry and get back soon. I'm in and out of the doctor's office in a few minutes and return to my truck with bad news that the doctor has a line of patients that he has to see today and it will be late by the time he gets to the house. "I hope Kya will hold on till then." I can't help but fume at the idea of making her wait, but at least they promised for her to be seen today when he can get to the house. I barely reach my truck before I see further down the sidewalk someone walking, no - limping, down the way. At first, I can't seem to recognize him. His hair is way to short, but his face from this far away resembles that of Matthew Dunham. I can only recall a few time that I'd been able to see him, and one of those times was not even a week ago when he was at the house. Yet you put on such a show in front of us, pretending to care for her. Now look at her.

I pocket my keys and get back on the sidewalk as I start going toward him. I can feel my blood beginning to boil as I start to see the identical likeness and at first when I walk up to him, I stop abruptly and stare at him.

"Matthew Dunham?" I snarl my lips and immediately, my fingers bunch up into a fist before I hear my sister's faint word. "Don't..." I relax my fingers and go in for a harsh shove, pushing him straight into the wall of the brick building.

"What the FUCK did you do to her?" I call out, taking both fists and ramming them straight into each shoulder again, making sure that he is flat against the wall. "What did you do? Huh? Tell me! What? Did you hit her? Did you touch her? What in God's name did you do to Kyanite?"

[Jack Lexington]

The sun outside really does something to brighten my mood. I goes from totally in the dumpster to hovering slightly above the whole pile of shit I call my life.
So I take another good long swig of the strong liquor because it also seems to be doing its share and limp along the sidewalk aimlessly.
Being an injured fuck up has its good sides, too. I'm free to get wasted on a normal work day in the afternoon and nobody bothers me...or so I think until I hear fast footsteps behind me.
"Matthew Dunham?" Somebody calls my name so I turn around to probably look in the face of yet another person to tell me that I fought well.
"Yeah?" I wonder and look at the guy who is darting towards me. Who is he, I know him.
A second later I'm able to place him and take a quick step back but not quick enough to escape his anger.
Being a trained fighter I instantly spot him ball his fist and tense up but he relaxes it again. Instead of punching me he shoves me straight into the brick wall of the building next to us.
The back of my head and my arm connect hard with the unforgiving stone sending a jolt of pain through me that instantly makes me groan.
My first instinct is to grab him by his jacket and push him back hard but this is Kyanites brother and I probably deserve whatever he wants to dish out.
So I clench my jaw and resort to glaring at him rather than fighting back.
It's hard, really hard but I can do it.
"What the FUCK did you do to her?"
He yells and some of his spit lands on my cheek because he's so close when he hammers his fists into my shoulders.
The sudden movement jerks my broken upper arm around enough for me to loose my self controll. If he wants to hurt me I'm not going to hold back, not even when I made a promise never to fight in an arena again.
"What did you do? Huh? Tell me! What? Did you hit her? Did you touch her? What in God's name did you do to Kyanite?" He yells at me but while he's still screaming his head off I throw my own forward right onto the bridge of his nose and then push him away from me with my left hand.
The expensive bottle of whiskey that I've been holding on to for dear life hits the ground and breaks into a thousand pieces. Damn shame!
Now it's my turn to scream at him.
"I didn't do anything to Kyanite! I didn't touch her! Nothing! Are you out of your mind?" It's my spit that goes flying now when I add.
I clutch my broken limb to my body but keep my guard up in case he wants to come at me again.
"Did she tell you I hurt her? Cause that's a fucking lie!"

[*]

I've been told many times in my life that my fists is usually what talks more than my mouth does, though, the moment that I start badgering Matthew about Kyanite, I can't help but keep it going. My two fists make complete contact with shoulders and I know, this will end one of two ways and each one is bad. Right now, my deep voice is anything but calm and my face is so close to his right now at this moment that I can even make out the color of his eyes to a T. What I demand of him, is nothing sure of accusations. Things that I've had to peice together because Kya has refused to even talk to me about what is going on, not to mention right now in the state of health she's in, all she does is just elicite these little sounds. The fever has taken her too far under.

What I don't, and should have, considered that even as beat up as he looks, he fights back. He throws his head forward just to make it connect with my nose. Oh, you think you're tough? Is what I first think when I feel some pain waves go through my head, jarring my vision for a split second before I listen to what he shouts back at me. The spit flies from his mouth when he defends himself, but I'm far from ready to listen to what he has to say. I'm already bunching up my fists again and this time, I plan on hitting him hard.

"Cop-out.. excuse." I say, bringing my fist out to his shoulder again, feeling my knuckles meet with him. I'm sure I'll be feeling the pain in my knuckles later, but right now, I'm full of blind rage and the only way to find out what happened is to make him talk.

"Did she tell you I hurt her? Cause that's a fucking lie!" He bellows out, but with such a stern face that I'm giving him, it takes just one second to recoil that claim. I'm back in his face, with my hand pointed straight toward him, my index finger just inches from his face.

"She hasn't spoken to me since I found her on the porch nearly frozen to death. By the time I found her, she couldn't even walk!" I growl back at him, knowing that the way she had looked so weak that carrying her inside was the only way I was going to get her in the house. "I don't know how your daddy raised you... but you need to rethink the way you treat women. If she ever wakes up, I'll be sure to make her tell me what you did but I can't wait that long. So, you had better start telling me what the hell you did or your going to find yourself on the ground? Got me? Now, tell me why I found her like that?"

[Jack Lexington]

Kyanites brother doesn't even flinch when I headbutt him. Some tough guy! Nor does he listen to what I'm yelling in his face. At least he doesn't accept it.
"Cop-out.. excuse."
Again his fist smashes into my shoulder and makes me struggle for my balance. It kicks something inside of me loose that makes me want to smash his skull in. I reach fro the back of his head to make him run into the wall face first but my half numb hand slips from his hair and leaves me staring at his pointed index finger. Watch out, I bite.
I don't want to know what the fuck he's saying but his fist is pressed against my shoulder so hard that I can barely move. I slap his hand away ready to attack but his first words reach me.
"She hasn't spoken to me since I found her on the porch nearly frozen to death."
"Wh..." My lips form the word as my mind tries to grasp what might have happened.
"By the time I found her, she couldn't even walk!"
What on earth happened? She walked home in the snow sure, but she looked all right. Did she get lost. Did she get hurt because of me? My body goes limp against his touch and suddenly all my will to fight him is gone.
"What happened?" I ask him what he wants to know from me.
I don't know how your daddy raised you... but you need to rethink the way you treat women. If she ever wakes up, I'll be sure to make her tell me what you did but I can't wait that long. So, you had better start telling me what the hell you did or your going to find yourself on the ground? Got me? Now, tell me why I found her like that?"
Confused and very worried I shake my head at him.
"Is this for real? What do you mean...if she wakes up?"
I jerk my shoulder away from his touch trying to comprehend all of this. Judging by the look on his face he's not lying to me to scare me and pay me back. Ky really is in trouble.
Searching for an answer my eyes flicker around. "I just didn't want her company. That's all. She asked whether I want her around and I said no. I was depressed. Kyanite just ran away." I stammer some of the facts.
"How is she?" My eyes are pleading with him to focus on what's really important and not who to blame.

[*]

---

Pure. Utter. Hatred. For him. For whatever it was that he was hiding. It was the only thing fueling me at this point and if it wasn't for the sudden change in his attitude, I would have already nailed him in the face. Instead, I hold off. I've gotten a few good hits on his shoulders and while he's pretty much pinned on the wall for the moment, I don't see any need to bring blood just yet. Not until he tells me more about why my sister was just sitting on the porch with no will to move inside the house. Why her cheeks were stained with tear paths down her face. Something happened. Something that affected her solely cause you sure seem all full of cheer today. At least before you met me. With my one hand still on his shoulder, pushing him against the wall, he slaps it away. I don't fight his need to be set free, but if he takes off running, he's mine, but what comes from his mouth is confusing. He half says a word, looking like he can't understand my words, but I don't wait on him to catch up.

"What happened?"

I barely hear him right now beyond my own rant and claims of how I found my sister. He must not understand, by the vacant expression on his face, and then he starts shaking his head like he really has no clue. AGain, I ball up my fist, squeezing tightly just so I can feel some type of force on my fingertips as I tell him more about Kya and the threats against his own body. I am in no joking manner right now cause I'm wasting precious time being here in front of 'him' while Kya might be needing my help. I have to end this fast. I need to make my point and get home before dad does later.

"is this for real? What do you mean... if she wakes up?"

"Just what I freakin said. If. she. wakes. up." I slow my speech down with a pause in between each letter to make an emphasis on it for him. He must be dim... I let those words linger on in my head and begin wondering why Kyanite was always hanging around him. Why on earth he would show up on our doorstep late at night. Then comes more of his excuses. He was depressed. He didn't want her company. Even to the point that she asked if he wanted her around and the answer was no? I end up grinding my teeth.

"Ran away? So you did do something to hurt her? No girl will runaway in the middle of a snowstorm unless it was something bad. Shit, not even I would do that." I make my point clear and keep my distance from him for a moment before I hear him ask how she is. Did he really just ask that? After what he said to her... after I know those tears were because of him, he just expects me to give out the details to what's going on with her?

"So, you just want me to tell you? I knew about your relationship and if what you just said is true, that means that you ended it with her? You told her you didn't want her around? You let your mouth do the talking because you were 'down'? How pathetic." I start to pace now, taking two steps to the right, and three to the left and then turn it all around. I stop suddenly wondering if I should say anything about her being sick or not to him. "If you realy wanted to know how she is, maybe you should have thought about that before wanted her out of your way? You think? You don't want the company, and she obviously don't need you."

Right now, my head is buzzing with what I need to do next as I only get a few steps away from Matthew before rounding on him again; taking the same position. My left hand goes directly for his shoulder again, balled up fist and all, while the other is free and pointing directly into his face. "You stay away from her, you hear me? You stay out of our driveway. You stay out of her life! If anything else happens to her, you, Mr. Dunham, will pay."

[Jack Lexington]

For the past week I’ve been so emotionally down that I couldn’t see past my own shit. My focus was solely on me and I thought for a good reason. I didn’t mean to affect anybody else badly by me. In fact I wanted to be left alone because I felt so damn low.
Not for one minute did I see past my own problems and thought about how my behavior might be affecting the people around me. Not even Kyanite.
Until now that her brother, who usually seems very passive to me, is right in my face. His in turmoil, I can tell, and he drags me right with him. Suddenly my own self pity is replaced by worries for her. The girl, that I had a crush on, maybe more.
I can see how he’s balling up his fist again and brace myself for the impact because I don’t think it’s appropriate to fight him. Not when he’s worried sick for his little sister.
He won’t tell me what her condition is. Why she would not wake up.

"Just what I freakin said. If. she. wakes. up."
I can feel panic set it. What if she doesn’t? What if she’s just as fragile as her mother, whom she told me about.
My face becomes a pleading grimace.
“What does that mean? Is she sick? Did she fall and hit her head? What’s the matter with her?”
Suddenly I feel this overwhelming urge to know because cold fear for her wraps it’s clammy fingers around my chest.
"So, you just want me to tell you? I knew about your relationship and if what you just said is true, that means that you ended it with her? You told her you didn't want her around? You let your mouth do the talking because you were 'down'? How pathetic."
"Yes I am pathetic!” I’d admit anything right now. “I don’t know what made her run away. I told her I didn’t want to be her friend."
I know her brother needs to know I didn’t do her any wrong so I try my best because I want to know how she is.
“Friends is just not enough for me. I just felt like I wasn’t good enough for her because I lost, you know? I wanted to pay Mark back for the scar on her cheek but I couldn’t.”

He turns his back on my pacing slowly while I’m silently hoping he’ll tell me more. Did I really do her so wrong? All I wanted was a little space. I wanted her to be better off.
"If you really wanted to know how she is, maybe you should have thought about that before wanted her out of your way? You think? You don't want the company, and she obviously don't need you."
His words hit me like an arrow because I know he’s right. It hurts but I’ll have to swallow that. Except for the last part.
“I don’t think so.” I shake my head. “If she’s this bad because of me, let me talk to her. I need to make this right.”

A second later I’m pinned against the wall again with his finger in my face. This time I let him do it, my body limp. I’m not putting up a fight. My head’s hanging when I hear him threaten me to stay away.
My eyes are pleading with him to let me in but his expression remains hard. This is killing me. It feels like I’m going insane because I’m so desperate.

Once again I try while my throat is getting almost too tight to speak. “I swear I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t even mean to break up with her. Don’t do this, Jeran. Kyanite needs me.”
At least that’s what I suddenly think. Maybe she really told me the truth. All she wanted was me, not a victor.
“Let me make this right.” I take a deep, pained breath because I feel like I can’t breathe anymore.

If he denies me I’m not sure whether I’ll break down or punch him out. I’m pretty sure right now I’d be capable of both and don’t care about the consequences, not even if I go to the dc. I might just belong there if Ky dies because of me.

[*]

I can tell the moment I laid out the words -If she wakes up- in slow form, he seems to really start to understand her predicament. I am more than just worried about Kya. I'm willing to do anything to keep her around. It isn't fair for me to lose my mother at a young age, but to lose Kyanite, too? No! This time, I can see the pain in her face. This time I feel the heat that radiaties off her body from the fever. I'm not some kid blind to the illness who thinks it'll just get better in a day or two. I thought she was better yesterday, but now I see that physically exserting herself to see Gala had overdone it for her. With the sudden grimace on Matthew's face, I feel somewhat releived that he's feeling some of the concern I am. What is it that you're feeling Matthew? Huh? Remorse now that you know about her? Would you even feel the same way if I hadn't have mentioned something being wrong with her? Why she chose you, I'll never know. I just know that lately, I've never seen her so caught up in training before. Was that because of you? Was her first loss also your fault?

I stay quiet though when he wants to know what's wrong with her. It's better this way. I want to see him squirm. I want to see him feel horrible for whatever it was that he did to her. I want to witness his breakdown and it comes on quick after I call him Pathetic and he actually submits to that accusation. I knew you were already. Now, you know it, too. I let my mind wander. I listen to everything he has to say before I start pacing trying to figure out what I want to do. How incredibly hard this is on me right now cause Kya's weak voice keeps shooting that damn word out at me. 'Don't'....

I turn on him again, threatening that he better leave her alone. My eyes evoke this uncanny ability to show how much I hate him right now. My eyes are as cold as ever, but full of meaning. My teeth peirce my bottomlip out of frustration when he merely allows me to shove him back into the wall. He's given up. He's completely let me take over with all of this and still he insists on wanting to make it right to Kya. What kind of brother would I be if I didn't make sure to keep out the only person that has hurt her this bad? Who has made her weak for the first time in her life, and for once, for me to actually see it?

"I swear I didn't want this to happen. I didn't even mean to break up with her. Don't do this, Jeran. Kyanite needs me."

"Needs you? NEEDS YOU? She also needs that doctor but he ain't coming...." I throw that out at him with the quickest reply I can manage, my voice almost cracking at the end. I push against him and leave him alone. The blood coursing through my veins is nothing but full of fire right now. I'm just about ready to say the fuck with it and take her to the hospital myself if the doctor don't get to the house in less than an hour. We waited too long to seek help for mom and it cost her, her life. I can't do that to Kya.

"Let me make this right." Why does he keep trying? Why does he think he can just talk to her and everything will be alright? His words hurt her last time, what's the chance that it will do any different this time? With so many scenarios going through my head, I can't afford to mess up now.

"No..." I turn around fast and dig out the keys from my pocket and head straight to the door of my pickup, pulling hard making the door bounce several times before I reach for the handle when I get in. In a matter of seconds, the engine roars loudly and the door barely closes before I stop it suddenly. I throw my fist into the steering wheel and throwing my head back against the head rest as I mouth the word 'fuck'. If I had one more chance...

"Let me make this right... I hate the idea of him coming with me. I'd rather leave his ass there to suffer, but what about Ky? Would she want this? If he's the one to break it off, it wasn't her that wanted it, right? She was on the recieving end of the whole thing and he's wanting to make up for what he did? Will Kya even be able to comprehend him being there, though? Will all of this be a waste of time with her being so ill?

I throw open the door, step halfway out and look to Matthew. "Get in..."

[Jack Lexington]

To claim that she needs me is a stretch. In my book she doesn't need me at all but Kyanite seems to think so.
Of course her brother gives me the sarcastic "Need you?" I deserve his doubts.
But then he tells me that the doctor isn't coming.
"Why not? Is it that serious?" My gutt drops down to my knees. More and more this reminds me of the story about how her mother got sick and a few days later died. What if it's the same with her?

Jeran denies me the chance to make it all right. I had a feeling he would. After all he wants to protect her but where does that leave me. All my concern about my own problems has left me and been replace by this overwhelming urge to tell her that I never wanted to break up, that I only wanted to do what's best for her but I've been hurting over this as well. To not be allowed to do this is taking my insides and tearing them up. I want to scream and beg for him to let me come see Kyanite but he's already at his car and starting the engine. Looks like he wants to get back to her fast.
So I hobble forward as fast as I can to get my hands on that car. I need to ask him one more time, threaten him, cry...whatever it takes. He can't just leave me here.
Under my fingers the shiny metal of the door slips away when he steps on the gas only to stop a few meters down the road.
In confusion I limp after the car. Then the big surprise. The door gets shoved open with a "Get in!"


Not for a second do I hesitate but throw my crutch in and place my hand firmly on the head rest of the seat before I climb inside with some effort.
"You won't regret it." I assure him because I know his dislike for me.
Buckling up...not so much. I can reach the seat belt so I tell him.
"I know a doctor who might be able to see her right away. He's retired."
If I do this I can only hope that the old man won't tell her brother how many times she's secretly been treated by him.
A weird mixture of excitement and fear rushed through my veins when the truck takes off down the road. Will Kyanite be able to talk to me? Will she hate me and curse me out or simply be happy that I'm there?
I don't know but the insecurity of it all makes me question whether it's worth putting myself through this for a girl.
A moment later I slap myself in thoughts 'Yes, she's worth it.' Never have I gone to any troubles for a girl but Ky has gotten under my thick skin.
Out of the corner of my eye I look at Jeran. Why didn't he stand up for her like this against their father?

[*]

I swear, I will regret this decision if this guy does anything else to harm Kya but what choice do I have? I'm giving him just one more shot. One more chance to do something that's he's been begging for. Against every intention I had when I came to find him now, I'm helping this guy instead of killing him. My sister should thank me for this when she gets better cause without that one damn word she happened to mutter, he would have no chance right now. I watch the guy as I tell him to get in and with so much effort, I can see that he's still very hurt by the final pregames fight. I don't give him a passing glance though until he's in the truck and the door shut. I hit the gas once again.

"I better not regret it or your ass is mine, you got it?" I refuse to let go of my hatred for now. He's still the one who put her into the position she's in but before I can even turn the next corner he comes out with something that seems to lift a heavy burden.

"I know a doctor who might be able to see her right away. He's retired." AT this point, I don't care if he was a cripple and I'd have to carry his ass up the stairs, I'd do anything right now for Kya. I dislike the fact that she's sick. I hate the fact that this guy is the one who made her cry. I stop at the next stop sign and turn to him.

"Where's this retired doctor live at?" I clinch my jaw hard and feel my teeth grinding against the movements as I start looking for oncoming cars.

[Jack Lexington]

I can tell clearly that Jeran resents me and is giving me a ride against his initial intentions which were clearly to tell me to stay the fu++ away from his sister and maybe break one more bone...ha if he could find a part of my body that's not crushed yet!
To not aggrovate him I sit on one of my cheeks silently to get the pressure of my hacked up leg and hang on to the handle of his jeep because he sure is driving fast in the snow.
"I better not regret it or your ass is mine, you got it?" My eyes dart over to him. Did he really just say that? Under different circumstances I'd have a smart remark to that line along the lines of 'I'd much rather have your sister have any other part of me than you having my ass...' Of course I don't say that under these circumstances nor am I in the mood for any jokes. I get his point. He'll kill me if I hurt her.
"Got it." I nod.

When he slides to a stop and asks about the doctor I know how eager he is to get somebody, anybody to see her. It must be very serious.
"Shit." I mutter under my breath because once again the feeling overcomes me that I might have cause some serious damage to somebody...just like Tyren, whom I almost killed.
"Take a right here, he's over in Cookstown. Main street."
I gesture with the bottom of my right arm while I feel my heart starting to thump hard against me ribs.
"What's the matter with her, Jeran?" I need to know even if he'll take my head and slam it into the dashboard.

[*]

"Got it."

He understands how serious I am when I told him that he had better not make me regret this decision to let him come to see Kya. It's only in her best interest at the moment. Maybe, there's a possiblity it might make her stir long enough to say something more just 'don't' though it makes me curious why of all the questions I've been asking her, when it comes to 'him' she wanted to defend him? Why she wanted me to spare him when he caused her this much grief and now she's sick because of him?

My mind keep flashing to images of her snow covered form sitting on the stairs of the porch, her brown hair, dotted with snow, falling on either side of her face. That look of complete heartbreak on her face when she pulled away from my touch. I shake my head, look at Matthew once more from the corner of my eye and take his directions to go where this doctor lives. I put my foot on the gas just enough to make the turn gently but once I'm on the straightway, I got just a bit faster. Driving seems to take me out of my thoughts and pay attention to the snowy roads ahead of me, but Matthew decides to speak up once more asking what was wrong with her. No point in denying him anymore on what's going on. He's going to find out when he goes to talk to her. This better not be the wrong decision.. better not be on my part.

"Fever. She won't even stir much when I tried to get her to talk to me this morning before I left. She started getting sick that night after I found her on the porch. A small fever the day after but she seemed fine yesterday. She assured me she was fine and I took her to see a friend but this morning it was worse." I get to the part of the town that he mentioned and turn on Main Street and the row of buildings all fused together comes into view. I take to hitting the brakes just enough to come to a slow roll then pull into a spot to park. Once again, I let my anger feul my arms, and I jam the truck into park. "Where does he live? Name?"

[Jack Lexington]

From what he tells me about her health I get a bit of relief. If she caught a cold out in the snow and was fine enough to go see a friend yesterday she can't be in such a terrible state now. Maybe he's exagerting due to their past.
"So she's got a cold. Thank goodness. That doesn't sound so bad." I state my relief with a faint smile. "I though she was dying or something. Everybody gets a fever every now and then."
Maybe it's a bad idea to explain just how a rock just dropped of my heart when her brother is clearly on edge. I say what I think. It's always been a problem.

Once we've done a few crazy turns and drove way too fast considering I'm not wearing a seat belt he comes to an abrupt halt that sends me towards the dashboard. Just before I hit it I catch myself with my left hand.
"Where does he live? Name?"
"Just over there. Third house on the left. That brick one." I open the door and struggle out of the car, then fish for the crutch so I don't have to put any weight on my left leg.
"Dr. Knowles." I tell him the man's name. "Wait, let me talk to him first."
I hobble around the car in the snow as fast as I can to cross the street with him.
I need to warn the man not to say anything.

Jeran reaches his door before me but I push past him and ring the bell.
"Let me talk to him, okay? Step back!"

It doesn't take long until the old man, I've gotten to know a little too well, opens the door and gives us a look over the rim of his reading glasses.
"Matthew." He eyes me and frowns as usual. "Again? What happened to you?"
He casts a glance at his watch. "I don't have much time today. You and your secret stunts." He shakes his head but I move closer quickly and whisper.
"It's about the girl who was with me the other day. She's sick. That's her brother. She needs you help." I think the urgency in my voice and mentioning that her brother is next to me should warn him.

[*]

When he wanted to know what was wrong with her the first time, I gave him the cold shoulder and refused to tell him. This time when he asks, I actually give in cause I know it'll do me no good to just ignore him any longer since I apparently gave in to Kya's wishes. I told him what was wrong with her, but since she wouldn't talk to me, the only thing I could sense from her being sick was the high fever. Every time my wrist would touch her face, she wouldn't even stir from her slumber and I know that's not normal. The only responce I get back from him was him blowing it off as something as simple as the common cold. I shake my head and the moment I park the car, I turn to him, staring directly at his eyes with the cold, unforgiving glare.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand, Matthew. You just don't have any clue." I'm being as truthful as ever to him, even though he deserves nothing of my reasonings for why I'm a little over zealous about getting a doctor to look at her sooner rather then later just because of the fact that I arrived back home too late. That sort of thing haunts me even to this day, though dad just acts as though its nothing. He's hardly ever been sick in his life and the last time he was, mom took care of him like he was royalty but when it was her turn to be sick, he was anywhere but by her side. I once wished to be exactly like dad when I was young, but now I take it back. We are polar opposites.

The car door opens quickly, bouncing as a result of being shoved outward in a hurry. I have no means to be gentle right now. Not when Matthew is driving this mission of mercy for Kya. It takes him a good few minutes to maneuver out of the truck with his crutch and by the time he makes to me, he tells me the name of the man and that he needed to speak to him first. "Why?" I question him but Matthew is already crossing the street and I do the same following close behind him until he makes it known which door it is and I let my pace quicken to reach the door before him.

"Let me talk to him, okay? Step back!" Comes his hurried response when he pushes past me and rings the bell. I shrug and shove my hands into my pockets, giving him the necessary space he needs in order to talk to this retired doctor, as he states. Must be a family friend or something. Must be someone he's dealt with in the past. He isn't going to dupe me, unless he wants to find himself kissing the concrete. I back up a few paces as the door opens and I eagerly look to the old man that comes to the door. They exchange a few words and I watch for the moment that I might be needed and after a few seconds of them exchanging words, I can't wait any longer. I take two huge steps and get beside Matthew, staring directly at the man.

"Retired or not, please... My sister is sick. I'll pay you whatever it takes?" I plead with him. "I'll give you my address or I'll bring her here, just let me know what I need to do to get you to look at her? Please?" I may be pushing my luck with this retired old man who seemed somewhat irked that Matthew had come to his door, but do I sense some sort of change in his facial expression? Will he take it upon himself to come to the house to do something for Kya?