Nightmare

Though Hunter grinned at Katie, he wasn't laughing as much as she. He wasn't quite sure if she was covering up the pain or if it was the alcohol loosening her up. Either way, her words of sinking herself didn't set with him too well. Not that he'd overreact, but it wasn't easy seeing her like this. 

"Don't sink yourself." He shakes his head and winks at her. "I'd miss you."

He picks up his empty beer bottle. "As far as another one goes... I got a few drops left." He clinks it against Katie's bottle. "To freedom. And friendship." 

Watching her carefully, he cocks his head, noting that she was just about done with her second beer. At the speed she was drinking, he feared it wouldn't take much longer for her to slide right off the stool onto the floor. She was still speaking clearly though... but even so, he finds himself continuing to watch her. Why he was so concerned, he wasn't really sure. He didn't usually care about what people did in bars, let alone feel responsible. But Katie was different. And it's just the way it was. 

Tipping back his head, he coaxes the last remaining drops of beer from his bottle. "Well..." He resumes the conversation in the hopes that Katie would talk out whatever she needed to. "Whether you feel like it or not, you're not broken. Things will look better tomorrow, and you might even find out you don't need that rock to stand on anymore." 

It was late. The grounds were already dark, and crickets made the only quiet sounds. But Garret was far from sleep. Walking almost silently across the veranda and through the garden, his pace is slow and wandering. If anybody asked, he'd just tell them he was battling insomnia. The truth though, was that he was battling his conscience. 

Eventually he finds himself slipping towards the secret hiding place. For such a small location, it had much drawing power that he was rarely able to resist. Hands in pockets, his ears pick up all the sounds needed to avoid the detection of the security cameras. It was second nature by now. 

His boots move quietly through the grass, almost in silence. But his mind was nowhere near quiet. He had not seen Victoria since earlier that day when he'd returned. In truth, he had avoided her. He didn't know what he'd say. How he'd act. There had been a few other times when he had regretted his actions. But today was the worst he'd ever experienced. And Victoria was suffering for it. 

Coming upon the old swing, Garret is slightly startled to see Victoria's form. He wouldn't have thought she'd be out here at this late hour. He couldn't turn back though - he knew she would have already spotted him.

Approaching slowly until he was in front of her, a lump rises in his throat. Taking a knee and looking up into her face that was cradled in soft moonlight, he searches her dark eyes. "I'm so sorry," he whispers. "I don't deserve your love - I never did. I won't hold it against you if you blame me for today." 

Carson sits bolt upright in bed, sweat pouring down his face and neck. His heart thumped so hard, it felt as though it would beat right out of his chest. Staring into the dark bedroom, he glances to the side, hoping he hadn't just woken Misty. He couldn't tell. What time was it? It felt like he'd only been asleep for an hour or two.

Slipping out of bed, he pads quietly to the bathroom. Leaning on the sink, he splashes cold water on his face, trying to calm his breathing. He shook all over as the panic attack ran its course. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had that nightmare. He had never wanted to see it again. But it was back. He knew why. He knew it was stress that brought it on. But still, he'd been unprepared to see those images all over again... to revisit those memories.

Still leaning on the sink, water drips from his face to swirl down the drain, along with the running water from the faucet. Continuing to shake, he just wants it to pass before he went back to bed. Not that he would sleep after this.

Morning

Letting out yet another long sigh Katie takes a swig of her beer and swishes the liquid around in her mouth for a long moment just savoring the taste. It was cool and refreshing and she liked it. All in all it didn't seem that bad to have a drink if it was once in a while.

Hunter's comment strikes her as being slightly funny. It was strange in a way to hear someone else say about how nice she was. Most of the time it had been Jason or someone close to her but something about how Hunter said it was just....different.

   "Thanks for reassuring me I'm not broken but I sure do feel like it. Jason he's...always been my rock and now it feels like I'm sinking you know. Like I should just sink myself so it not long and drawn out."

Just shaking her head again Katie didn't mean to sound so depressed but its how her mood was right now. She just felt like complete crap, and she couldn't help her moon matched.

   "How about a toast...to freedom may it treat us both well and...something...something..something."

Katie gives a laugh knowing she sounded completely retarded right now but the beer was sinking in and she was laughing so that was the point of coming right?

   "You have to get another beer though if your gonna toast."

Watching Garret as he comes up the steps her face was a lack of emotion though standing there she felt like a puppy who was waiting for there master. Two had gone and one had come back. It was a fate she new was coming but somewhere inside her heart she had hoped. 

As Garret takes her hand and places the locket into it Victoria can't help the tear that finally broke from her eye. This was her mother, her flesh and blood, she was not made of stone and if someone anyone did not understand that than let them punish her too.

Wrapping her fingers around the locked she would keep it always, she would always ware it. And Garret's request would always be honored...though she hurt she could never be so mad as to not forgive him knowing he had to do it. 

Slowly descending the steps Victoria slowly walk down the walk way, into the garden's and to the secret spot with the swing. Right now she just wanted to be alone, she wanted privacy, she wanted to be able to cry freely. Now it was the time for morning the woman who had given her life.

Never Ask

Taking note of Katie's second beer, Hunter says nothing, just letting her drink. He knew it wouldn't take much to make her tipsy and it probably wouldn't require much more to get her completely drunk. But for now he wouldn't interfere. He could always drive her home if it got too bad. 

Listening to what had happened, he shakes his head a little and sighs. He was glad she'd told Jason it was over - in his mind, that's what she needed. To break ties with the guy who was just constantly hurting her feelings. Even so, he knew that breaking up wasn't easy and it was tearing Katie apart. 

"No, you're not broken," he responds gently. "You're far from it, and you have every right to be angry. I guess I don't know everything and I wasn't there but... as far as I'm concerned, you've done nothing to deserve any of this. You're one of the neatest women I've ever met and Jason's stupid for hurting you." 

Finishing off his beer, he sets aside the bottle and waves away the offer for a second. He suddenly had the urge to stay sober tonight. Tonight, clarity was needed. "I know it sucks but if he's been that much of a jerk then this is what's best for you, right?"

How could Victoria be glad he was chosen to murder her own mother? Garret wasn't sure he'd ever understand. He was relieved to know that she wouldn't hold the act against him... that she would still love him just the same... but what he questioned was whether or not he'd be able to live with himself and see her every day knowing that he had taken her mother's life. 

"Thank you." It felt such a trite answer, but what else could he say? "I hope I will be able to forgive myself as you can forgive me." 

Rubbing his own blood between his fingers, he then ignores the small wound. He must move on. "I'll see you later." Whether it was fear of someone seeing them or fear of losing control of his emotions, he wasn't sure, but choosing to leave the scene was best... 

The day would move on, but it felt as though there were a dark cloud hanging over the estate. Despite Cassandra having the rest of this day, she would not be found by anyone, not even Victoria. It wouldn't be until the next morning that she would be seen, and it was simply to walk from the house to the waiting van where Garret joined her in the back for a blind ride to the airstrip. He had not seen Victoria yet this morning, but he could feel her eyes, and he knew that she was aware they were leaving. And he knew that she would always remember seeing this van pull away, taking with it her mother's life...

Garret's hands grip the steering wheel a little tighter than normal as he drives down the quiet road, staring through his sunglasses. He'd been here before, and knew his way around the winding back roads, but wasn't sure about the exact location. He only knew it had been a half an hour since they'd left the airstrip after landing.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, all he sees is the black divider, keeping his eyes from seeing his victim. It was just as well. He wasn't sure if he could stand to see the eyes that reminded him so much of Victoria. How many lives had he taken? How many eyes had he stared into before pulling the trigger? And none had felt like this.

"You're going to kill me, aren't you?"

Cassandra's voice through the speaker comes as a surprise. What wasn't surprising was that she'd figured out she was not being taken to some political negotiations as she'd been told. Garret finally answers her. "Yes."

There was a long stretch of silence before she speaks again. "Please make it clean and quick."

Garret grits his teeth as his eyes remain glued to the road. "I will."

It was not long enough before he was pulling the car off onto an old dirt road and driving a  ways into the secluded area. No one would find a body here, especially if it was buried. And even if they did, it would be untraceable.

Parking the car, Garret sits for several moments, checking his handgun to make sure it was loaded. Finally getting out, he opens the back door for Cassandra. Stepping into the sunlight, she had as much poise as if taking an afternoon stroll. With no words spoken, Garret leads her a short distance away before retrieving his gun from his hip and cocking it.

"Please take care of Victoria for me."

Garret's gaze rises to Cassandra. As far as he was aware, Victoria had never even told her about them. "You knew?"

Cassandra smiles before reaching up and removing Garret's sunglasses from his face so she could see his eyes. "It's a mother's talent to know things like that."

Garret swallows hard. "You have my word, I'll do all I can to protect her."

Cassandra nods. "Thank you. I know you will."

Taking several steps back, Garret cocks his gun and raises it to stare down the length of his arm. He would not keep her waiting. "Goodbye, Cassandra."

She holds herself tall and takes a deep breath as she waits for the end. A single tear slowly slides down her cheek. "Goodbye, Garret."

The trigger is squeezed. The shot echoes through the air. And Cassandra's body slumps to the ground.

Lowering his gun, Garret has to take several moments before approaching once more. Kneeling beside the body, he retrieves his sunglasses from Cassandra's limp hand before standing again.

It would take over an hour for him to dig a grave and cover it again. And when it was done, Garret was once more behind the wheel of the car, heading back to the airstrip. The entire incident would be swept under the rug to keep any questions at bay. Soon, no one would remember the day Cassandra had not returned to the estate. But the day would always be burned into Garret's mind, never to be forgotten...

...Stepping out from the back door of the van, Garret's eyes sweep the area. He was back at the estate once more, and still just as clueless as always about the location. But for once, he was not glad to be back within the safety of these walls. Heading towards the house to report to Medridge, he spots Victoria on the steps, and his heart aches all the more. Never had it been so hard to maintain his composure and pretend that everything was fine.

Taking the steps, he pauses for only a moment in front of her. Reaching for her hand, in it he places the silver locket that her mother had always worn, and he curls her fingers around it, giving her hand a squeeze. Looking her in the eye, his gaze was cold and dark. "Never ask me about today." It was more than a request. It was a warning. For he would not speak of it.

Letting her go, he continues his route inside before any attention was drawn to them. Medridge needed to hear that the job was done before Garret could seek out the privacy of his own quarters. He had yet to decide if he would sleep, cry or get drunk. But he knew none would erase the day.

Rose

Finishing off the bottle of beer Katie waves the bartender over for another. Getting that one she takes another swig of it before turning her head to look at Hunter. His words were comforting but it didn't make the pain any less, but it was nice to hear them anyways.

   "I yelled at him, walked away, told him it was over. He tried to stop me and tell me it wasn't what it looked like. I told him to just leave me alone, what else could it be than it looked like. Even if he didn't want Sandy to kiss him he had to have given her the impression he liked her or something and thats just as bad."

Letting out yet another heavy sigh followed by another swig of beer Katie mind started to get slightly foggy. Some might say she was a light weight and they were right. For her first time drinking, a beer and a few swigs the liqueur would hit fast and make he tipsy for sure. She wasn't there yet but she could definitely feel something.

   "After everything I've done for him Hunter...I just dont get what I did wrong to cause this. Am...I broken or something that he would need to seek another woman? I mean...and after the lecture he gave me about hanging out with you when what we did was completely innocent. The nerve...It just...makes me hurt, and mad the more and more I think about it."

Watching Garret and walking along her side of the flowers Victoria was happy that they separated her and Garret or she would of fallen into his arms right there. Even the strong had to break down, even the thick hearted had a weak spot.

   "Tomorrow...thats so soon. He's not even going to question her himself?"

It was surprising to head that her mothers death would be quick and there would be no dragging it out. In a way she was thankful her mother would not have to endure any more than she already had. There would be no torchure, no endless questions. In the snap of the fingers it would be over.

Stopping and seeing the blood trickle down Garret's finger Victoria let out a silent tear on the inside hearing he had been the one chosen to do this job. A mixed amount of emotions played inside her. Anger, hate, pain but not twords Garret it was not his fault, he was only following orders but it was her grandfathers she held these emotions for a little more than she had.

   "I'm glad you were chosen. You will show mercy and wont let it drag on any longer than it has to. And when you get back, it will be washed away and I will continue to love you because this is our job but does not define who we are. Like a rose bush has thorns that hurt, tear, and leave marks on the skin it does not look any less beautiful making us forget the danger it holds till finally with great care it is taken and loved."