002 [svw]

"That stupid, insipid little cunt had the audacity to act like she belonged on my level. It was downright insulting. It was INFURIATING. I was inducted into the Femme Fatale Hall of Fame just a few months ago— you think that little beast would have the common sense to at least acknowledge that. Instead she acted..." Kitty's words broke off in a frustrated snarl of anger as she shoved her hands through her unruly hair, pushing it out of her face before flopping back on the couch.

"She acted like what, Kaitlynn?" The doctor's accent was soothing today. His voice like warm chocolate, making her feel so much better when she closed her eyes and listened to it. "We've got plenty of time today—"

"Oh?" She glanced at the clock on the wall, "so we're not doing thirty minute sessions any longer?"

"I think it's in our best interests— your best interests, really— to stretch it out to the full hour." He replied vaguely.

She sat up slowly, staring at him. "They made it very clear to me that I wasn't worth more than a half an hour for each session more than a year ago. So what are you saying? Is someone else footing the bill other than our good friend Uncle Sam these days?" When he said nothing, simply inclining his head, she threw her head back and laughed. "Okay then. An hour it is." Flopping back against the couch, she let out a dramatic sigh. "She acted like I wasn't important and then after the show? She cuts this pathetic little interview where she bitched about not being ready and wanting to prove herself... blah, blah... ugh. Absolutely disgusting that the legendary Wendigo is bedding that pitiful little slut, let alone training her— she clamored for a rematch and they're going to give her one. Can you believe that? I already proved I'm better than her. I guess this time I'm going to really have to drive that message home."

"You said something happened after the match. I distinctly recall you telling me that that's why we needed to schedule this session sooner."

"Oh." And just like that the bravado dropped from her, the confidence draining away as she stared up at the ceiling. "I've thought about it— I was wrong. It's impossible. He's— it must have been a trick of the light when I looked up at the skybox. That's all."

"What did you see, Kaitlynn?"

She shook her head, bringing her hands up over her face. "It's not possible."

"What did you see?" He repeated it again, leaning forward.

"That smile," she shuddered, "I'd know it anywhere but... it's just not..."

"Kaitlynn," the doctor's hand was on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I saw him, doctor. But that's not possible... he's supposed to be dead..."




Kaitlynn sat in the trendy little cafe around the corner from where the school used to be, waxing nostalgic. The piano was still in the corner and for that she was grateful. Maybe it still moonlighted as a piano bar like it did once upon a time. She liked to think that it did because that one consistency was enough to keep her tethered to reality. One more change and she was bound to come completely unglued, even with the anxiety medication flowing through her bloodstream. An untouched glass of white wine sat on the table in front of her, the little decanter waiting to top her off once that made its way down the hatch. If he didn't show up, she'd finish it and order more. She'd earned it, after all.

She had zero expectations for this meeting, given that every other person from her past she'd tried to actively seek out had completely blown her off. Adding his name to the list would just be another predictable outcome, really.

Imagine her surprise as he finally made his way through the entrance. Dressed casually as was normal for him, he quickly scanned the customers. As Christian's eyes spotted her, he made a beeline for her. And before a single word was exchanged, he gave her a tight hug, lifting her off her feet in the process. Finally placing her back on the floor, the smile remained. "Been wanting to do that since the end of December!"

To say she was taken aback by his enthusiasm was the understatement of the year. She was completely floored and as she slid back into her chair, gesturing for him to take the one across from her, she couldn't help but feel that little surge of attraction that had led to one of her biggest mistakes ever. "You look good, Christian—" instead of dwelling on how pleasing that smile of his was, she shoved the conversation into generic small talk, "are the rumours true? Are you actually mostly retired from competition now?"

"Not entirely, but I do take bookings only when I'm intrigued or want to face someone." He answered with a shrug before pulling the chair up, and taking a seat across from her. "If someone asks, like the Kane kid did last year, then I might. But my Club pays my bills, so it's not...required to compete unless I just want to do it." He answered. "I gotta tell you. When you walked out at that show in December, I.....I felt like one of those fans at home when someone they love walks out. I came out of my seat...turned over a Coke actually."

She blushed at hearing that, laughing self-consciously. "I think you're among the minority there, sweetheart." She fidgeted, tucking her hair behind her ear before reaching for the wineglass. "Imagine my surprise when I went to surprise you at the school and found it wasn't there anymore. So many things have changed since I've been gone."

"Yeah...that burned down last year." He told her, a slight look of disappointment came and went over his face. "That's also part of the reason I don't compete regularly, the insurance money from that place after all the time I had it was substantial. Since I wasn't going to rebuild it...I did fairly well." That part brought a smile to his face. "And I saw the reaction you got. For what it's worth, I was thrilled about it. I've always wished people who I've lost could come back. And if one happens to for any reason, I'll greet them with open arms."

"I appreciate that more than you can imagine." She lifted the wineglass to her lips, taking a small sip. "I seem to have lost every single friend I used to have... present company excluded, of course." She paused, letting out a soft sigh. "It wasn't my choice, you know. That's what they don't really understand— not that I could tell them even if I wanted to."

"I'm sure it wasn't. But in a way, think of it like this experience showed you who was truly there for you all along. Because if someone really cares about you, wants the best for you, they won't be upset when they find out you're alright...much less alive. Am I the only one who has been decent to you?" He asks after giving an order to the waitress when she passes by. "I saw people like Kasey flipping their shit, but I don't know everyone you know, so surely I wasn't the only one."

"Larry won't even talk to me. Brad was utterly horrible— as if I intended for them to seek him out to identify the body? Honestly..." she huffed, taking another bracing swallow of her drink, "Nessa is the only one who's still talking to me and I suppose that's for the best, really."

"Well that's a pair to draw to, isn't it? Me....and Nessa." The very idea caused him to grin. "Never knew we had anything in common. Aside of that, are you alright? I mean...is there anything I can help with? I don't know your situation or what one goes through in it. So if there's anything I can do to help make life a little easier, say the word. A place to stay, money, anything. You name it."

"I'm..." she shook her head sadly, "I don't really know how to answer that. I'm better, I suppose, than I was. Not that it really means much— I'm not alright, Christian. I haven't been 'alright' in a long time." Kitty paused, finishing off her wine before setting the empty glass down. "Money... a place to stay... honestly, I could use both. That's why I came back, really. The money ran out and I was sick to death of hiding from a ghost."

He didn't respond for a moment, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a small leather checkbook. A pen was removed next as he flipped it open, and began to fill it out. "Well look, this is a gift. I don't want it back. I don't want anything in return for it. Like I say, it's insurance money...I consider it found. Get everything you need, this should last you a couple or three months at the least." He added before signing his name and ripping it from the book. A fold in half, and he slid it across to her, a check for twenty five thousand dollars.

Looking down at the folded paper, she felt her eyes welling with tears. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching across the table to rest her hand on his. "Honestly... I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't worry about it. Do me a favor though. When you called, I didn't know what the situation would be, but I also wanted you to get you a belated Christmas gift...since I haven't for a couple years now." He winked, removing a small gift card from his pocket and sliding it across to her. "This is meant to be used on something that will make you smile. Not necessities, I mean something totally frivolous that would make you feel better." The gift card was from Kay Jeweler's. "It's about 10% of that check, and there's only like 3 of them in this area. Go find you something to bring out your eyes."

She remained speechless for a moment, staring down at the gift card with a mixture of sadness and joy. "All of my jewelry... I had to leave it behind in Vancouver. God knows what's happened to it now." Looking back up, she couldn't help but smile at him through the tears in her eyes. "You've always been so good to me. Thank you, Christian. So much."

"Happy to do it. Like I say, I didn't get you a present for a couple years, so....hopefully that covers it. I'm just glad you're alright. And if I can help, I want to. You deserve it." Christian thanked the waitress after she returned with his cappuccino. He returned his attention back to his companion. "You know the number, you know where to find me. I'll always be there to pick you up when you fall." He reached across and gave her hand a squeeze.

"Maybe someday I'll return the favor," she quipped, letting out a little laugh as she refilled her wineglass with the remains from the decanter. "I can't always be the damsel in distress, after all."

"You're not a damsel in distress." He shook his head at that. "Everyone goes through a hard time in one way or another. This one is just yours, and it's long since overdue that things started improving. And if I can kickstart that into happening, all the better, right? I just want to see you happy. You're overdue for it."

"I want to be happy," she replied, "God knows I've more than paid my dues in sorrows." Pausing for a moment, she studied him, "how about you? Besides the sudden windfall in your favor, are you doing well? Still with Kelly?"

"I'm alright, mainly working at the Club. I don't do much training anymore, unless someone asks specifically since I don't have a place to train them. I have maybe....five people right now I still work with, including Kelly though there isn't much I can teach her at this point after all this time. Mainly psychology." He answered before taking a sip from cappuccino.

"That's the hardest to learn," she nodded, filing away that artful dodge to her question for later dissection. "I still struggle with it myself, even after all this time. And I have to wonder, really, if the powers that be chose Sydney Holt as my first opponent knowing what would happen... knowing precisely how I would approach it... or if that was just a happy accident." She mused aloud, trying to keep her mind on other things than the still very strong attraction she felt for the man sitting across from her.

"You know what's funny?" He leaned in, as though this were a secret. "I don't think Kyle booked that match for you. I was about to go see him one night before the show started, and overheard him on the phone before I went in. And the gist of the chat I heard was someone asked him to make Sydney your opponent."

"Really..." she considered that for a moment, resolving that she would simply ask Kyle about it the next time she had an opportunity to. "Well, that does complicate things, doesn't it? I was going to send him a gift of thanks. I suppose now I'll have to find out who I really owe." As she spoke, she took the folded check and gift card from the table, slipping them into the side pocket of her wallet before tucking it back into her purse. "Are you busy this afternoon?"

"I thought it was odd too, because I can't imagine who'd ask for that or why. But..." He gave a shrug of that thought, finishing off his cup of cappuccino. "Not really, want to go put a dent in that gift card? There's a Kay over on Sunrise I know."

She nodded happily, feeling that huge burden of depression starting to lift from her shoulders. "I'd love to."

He hopped up from his seat, leaving some cash on the table for the drinks. "Shall we then? I'm sure there's some diamonds or emeralds waiting on you go pick them up."

Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she rounded the table and linked her arm through his. "You know what they say, sweetie— diamonds are this girl's best friend."