Ties That Bind (25 page)

“Come on my little dancing queen. It’s time
to go home.”

“Spoil sport,” she accused.

“Tell that to your dog,” he countered. “He’s
probably eaten your couch by now.”

“My dog?” She asked pointedly, but conceded
nonetheless. After making the rounds of goodbyes, she followed
Gavin out to his car.

“Did you have fun tonight?” Gavin asked. Kate
couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or genuinely wanted to
know.

“Don’t walk so fast, my feet hurt,” she
hopped along, trying to remove her heels as they went.

“Imagine that,” he took no pity on her.

“You’re a cold, hard man—you know that
Gavin?”

He scooped her into his arms in response and
carried her, protesting the entire way, back to the car. She nearly
dozed off on the ride home, the weight of the past week settling in
once they were in the quiet calm of his car with only the purr of
its engine to intrude upon her thoughts.

While she was still fumbling to get out of
the car in her sleepy state, he materialized at her door to carry
her up the stairs to her apartment. He set her down long enough to
open the door, grabbing Ty by the collar before he could make a
break for it.

“Give me your keys, we left my purse in the
car,” Kate held out her hand.

“They’re in the door. Give me a second,”
Gavin tried to wrestle Ty back into the apartment. “Calm down you
goofy mongrel.”

“Got ’em,” she snagged the keys from the door
and headed downstairs.

“I’ll get his leash on him and we’ll be right
down,” Gavin called after her, shoving the dog back through the
door and closing it soundly behind them.

Kate shook her head. She’d expected Ty to be
restless after being alone that long, but this was ridiculous. She
pushed the button on her key fob and the little Audi beeped a
friendly response. Kate reached for the door but stumbled as a
blinding pain cracked the back of her skull. She reached behind her
to feel the source of the pain, sickened by the warm sticky mess
she felt in her hair. She stared at her fingers through a confused
haze. What had happened? Was that blood?

Someone grabbed her by the hair and slammed
her head into the doorframe of the car. She could hear Ty in the
distance, barking madly as she was shoved into the Audi. She
fumbled with the door, trying to let herself out, but couldn’t seem
to make the handle work.

There was someone in the car with her now.
She tried to focus on what they were saying, to understand what
they wanted.

“I will not let you marry that boy,” a
hateful voice growled at her.

“Justin?’ Kate struggled to come out of the
fog.

“I would have loved you forever. I would have
kept you safe. The boy didn’t keep you safe. Look at you now.”

“But you did this to me, not him,” Kate held
her throbbing head in her hands.

“SHUT UP. Just shut up. We’re leaving this
stupid town and your stupid boy. You’re mine now.”

Kate didn’t try to speak again as he ranted
and rambled at her. Were her chances of survival better if she
threw herself from the car now or if she waited until he stopped to
make a break for it? She tried to ascertain where they were, and
realized with a sinking heart that the time for flinging herself
from the car had passed. The car was gaining speed now as he pulled
on the highway. Had they crossed the bridge already? How had she
missed that? The engine was roaring now, the road flying beneath
them. Kate groped for her seatbelt.

This time Kate was grateful to see red and
blue lights swing in behind them. She might still die, but at least
it wouldn’t be alone on some forgotten coastline. Gavin wouldn’t
have to spend years wondering what had happened to her. The thought
of him sliced through her. She closed her eyes and breathed his
name, willing her love to him. Wishing more than anything that he
might know just how passionately and fully she did love him. She
was so very glad she had not held out, that she had given up the
walls.

She was vaguely aware of the loud string of
curses Justin was spewing. Another police car fell in line behind
them. Justin blamed Gavin for their presence. Kate wondered if that
were true. He was pushing the car harder now. Kate knew this car
could take way more than Justin could handle. He would lose control
long before he hit 155 miles per hour.

As if in response to her dire prediction,
Kate watched as a large, jagged rock materialized before them. It
all seemed to slow down then. She was tossed to the left when he
jerked the wheel, trying too late to veer with the road. The car’s
back end swung out. The driver’s side slammed into the boulder with
such force the entire car bounced back. Someone was screaming. Was
it her? There was so much blood. Glass everywhere. And… pain.

Then there were voices. Three men? Four?

“It’s leaking fuel.”

“Is she alive?”

“Get her out of there.”

“There’s no way the driver lived.”

Hands were grabbing her. Big hands. Rough,
but gentle. Why couldn’t she move? Why didn’t her legs work? She
met the worried brown eyes of a stranger. They were kind eyes. They
wanted her to live. She licked her lips and swallowed, tried to
speak. Nothing came out.

“Come on honey, I’ve got you now.” The
stranger was tucking her in his arms, running. Why was he
running?

“Get down!” Another voice shouted just as an
explosion rocked the earth behind them. Tongues of fire licked the
sky. She and the stranger were tumbling now. He’d wrapped his body
around her, protecting her. A cry of pain ripped from his lips. She
wanted to tell him she was sorry. And then the blessed black
claimed her.

“You are not pulling any damn plug.”

Kate was confused. What plug was Jack so
averse to having pulled? Why was Jack here? She struggled to open
her eyes but they wouldn’t cooperate.

“It’s still too soon to say, of course.”

Whose voice was that? Kate wondered what it
was too soon for.

“Why are we talking about this anyway? She
will wake up.”

Gavin. And he was in pain; she could hear it
etched in his voice. Open, just open. She willed her eyes but the
darkness was so deep, pulling her back under. And it was quiet
again. So quiet.

“Get some sleep, Gavin.”

Kate could hear Jack’s voice again. Why was
he here? Was Gavin sick? She fought harder against the
darkness.

“You shouldn’t even be here,” Gavin’s voice
was ragged. “Just leave me with her.”

“You need rest. You don’t even have to leave
the room. Just get some rest. She’ll need you more if she wakes
up.”

“But you have to talk to her. They said it
helps to talk.”

“And you’ve talked yourself hoarse. Let me do
this. Please.”

“I’m right here.”

“I know, I know. Just lay back. Rest.”

Kate clawed at the darkness now. Gavin needed
her. Something was hurting him. She had to win this time.

“Katie… I have to admit this feels a little
strange… talking to you like this. I don’t know what to say. I
guess I should start with sorry,” Jack began awkwardly.

Kate’s mind stilled. She no longer clawed at
the dark, content to float along in it for the moment. She must be
dreaming, dreaming of a time before Jack looked at her with
contempt. His voice was soft, smooth as butter. It reached out and
wrapped around her like a gentle embrace now.

“Katie, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry it took this
for me to see. I’m sorry I was so stubborn. You were right. Every
time I looked at you, it reminded me how badly I failed Danielle.
How I let you down. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t
deserve any of this. I love you, Katie. And I’m proud of you. I
know I don’t deserve you. But you can tell me what a jerk I am when
you wake up. You’ve got to wake up, though, so I can spend the rest
of my life trying to make this up to you.”

Whatever held her bound to the darkness
snapped, and Kate’s eyelids fluttered open. She looked around the
room, trying to put the pieces together. She was in a bed—with
rails. Jack was at her side; his head bent low over her hand. He
was clutching her hand tightly in his own. There were the familiar
beeps and hums of hospital machinery. Kate took in the tubes coming
from her arms, felt the irritating plastic in her nostrils. The
machinery was for her. She placed her free hand on Jack’s head,
patting it awkwardly in an attempt to comfort.

“It’s not fair apologizing when you think I
can’t hear. It’s cheating.”

“Katie,” his head lifted, hope flickering in
his eyes.

“Hey Jack,” her voice sounded strange in her
own ears. “Is Gavin okay? I was worried about him. He sounded
hurt.”

“He’s not hurt,” Jack assured her,
straightening in his chair. “He’s just been worried about you.”

“Gavin,” Kate called a little louder, needing
to see him for herself.

He was at her side immediately, a thousand
emotions at once playing across his face. He stroked her hair with
one hand and held her hand with the other. He looked like he wanted
to gather her in his arms but was afraid to break her.

“Hello love,” he smiled tremulously.

“Are you okay?” worry creased her brow.

“I’m fine now,” he laughed softly. “I’m just
fine now.”

“What’s going on?”

“You were in an accident,” even the words
brought him pain. “You’ve been asleep for awhile.”

“The man with kind eyes. He saved me, didn’t
he?” Kate closed her eyes, images playing through her mind like a
montage. “Is he okay?”

“Officer McKinsey is going to be just fine.
He’s just down the hall. They say he might even get out this week.”
Gavin’s lips brushed her hand as he spoke.

“Really? Tell him I’m so sorry he’s hurt
because of me.” She opened her eyes, meeting Gavin’s and holding on
to his gaze like a lifeline.

“It wasn’t your fault, Kate,” Gavin shook his
head.

“But I didn’t move. I heard them saying the
fuel was leaking. I wanted to move, but I didn’t.” She frowned,
angry with herself anew.

“Honey, the car had completely collapsed on
you. You couldn’t move.” Gavin stroked her cheek and she leaned
into his touch.

“Liz and Derrick… are they in Hawaii?” Kate
tried to sit up.

“They postponed their trip…,” Gavin paused
when Kate began to look panicked. “What’s wrong baby?”

“I can’t feel my legs, Gavin.” Kate’s chest
was heaving now from exertion and terror.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” he tried to sooth her,
tried to keep her from seeing the concern in his eyes. “The doctor
said that might happen. There’s a lot of swelling on your
spine.”

“What? What are you saying?” Kate wanted to
rip all of the stupid tubes from her body, to run out of this
horrible place screaming. Her grip on Gavin’s arm became
viselike.

“Jack, could you go get some help please?”
Gavin cast a glance his way.

“Sure, sure. I’ll be right back.”

“No,” Kate sobbed. She wanted to wake up from
this dream. She didn’t like it at all. “Gavin, please no.”

“Oh baby, oh my darling girl,” he crooned,
his accent thick as tears choked him. He leaned over her, trying to
hug her without moving her. “It might not last. When the swelling
goes down…it might not last. You’re awake. That’s what matters, my
girl. That’s all that matters now.”

“I don’t want this, Gavin.” She buried her
face in his chest.

“I know love. I know,” he continued to stroke
her hair. The hospital staff descended and Kate tried to pull
herself together. Gavin was always close. He refused to leave of
his own volition when the doctors asked for the room to be cleared
so they could examine Kate. Jack had to drag him from the room.
Kate wanted to ask questions, but her brain still hurt too badly,
the fog was still too thick.

So she lay still, following orders when
necessary and doing her best to tune out the commotion around her.
She reached back in her memory, trying to see if there was anything
she’d done to deserve this. Had she caused Justin’s insanity? In
some way encouraged it? No, she finally decided. This was just one
of those stupid, freak things. He was gone now, so they might never
know what it was about her that had caused his obsession. She
remembered that much. How could she forget? The sound of the impact
echoed in her ears even now. The sight of his vacant eyes. So much
blood.

Kate squeezed her eyes tight, trying to
picture her stupid, loveable dog to block out the nightmares. Ty.
Of course. Ty had known Justin was there. That’s why he’d been so
worked up that night. Kate concentrated on the image of his
ever-smiling face. It was so much more pleasant a thought than
blood; death.

“Ms. Yager?” The doctor was leaning over her
again. “Do you feel like talking for a minute?”

“Can Gavin come in first? I want him here,”
Kate struggled to sit up again.

“Sure, but I need you to lie back, okay? I’ll
raise your bed a little bit but that’s it. You have to lie
still.”

Kate nodded. Something in his voice required
obedience. Gavin was at her side again, taking her hand in his,
lending her his strength.

“We’re very happy you’ve rejoined us,” the
doctor smiled kindly at her. She tried to return the smile.
“There’s still some swelling in the spinal cord. The MRI didn’t
show any damage, so we’re pretty confident the feeling will return
to your legs as the swelling goes down, but we won’t know for sure
until it does.”

Kate nodded, inadvertently squeezing Gavin’s
hand tighter.

“In the meantime, you have got to lie still.
Give your body time to heal. You seem to have full use of your
upper body. That’s a really good sign. All we can do now is wait
and see.”