[chapter twenty-four]

JC steered the rental car down the highway, excessing the speed limit by more than 25 miles an hour, his eyes locked on the road. Chris glanced over and saw the speedometer rising. "Dude, getting us pulled over isn't going to get us there any faster."
JC sighed and lifted his foot off the accelerator slightly. "I can't help it. If he's hurt her before we get there…" JC let his thoughts trail off, not wanting to consider the possibilities of what Ray might do to Caitlin.

"Cait's tough. She's smart. I'm sure she's handling the situation as best she can until we get there." Chris reasoned, hoping he was right.

JC merely sighed and stepped on the accelerator again. "I hope you're right." He murmured.

After several more minutes of terse silence, Chris spoke again. "So are we going to talk about this, or are we just going to be pissy with each other for the rest of our lives?"

"I'm listening." JC said obstinately, switching lanes.

Chris sighed and rolled his eyes slightly at JC's stubbornness. "What do you want to hear?" He asked.

"Why?" JC said simply.

"I just…I just fell for her, man." Chris said honestly. "I never meant to. We were hanging out, just like friends, and then I started seeing her as more."

"So you went after her behind my back." JC said.

"I never 'went after her'. The first hint that she knew I liked her wasn't until Lambeau. She was surprised when I kissed her. And she pulled away--because of you." Chris said. "Are you worried about my feelings for Caitlin, or Caitlin's feelings for me?"

JC sighed. "I'm not sure. Both, I guess."

"She's never been anything but faithful and devoted to you." Chris explained. "Even when we were gone. Even when you were too busy to see her every day. She's been there, just waiting for the time you can give her. Trust me, she could have any guy, but she wants you. She's never been anything but faithful to you."

JC nodded, acknowledging Chris' words. He was silent for a few minutes, before speaking again. "What about your feelings for her?"

Chris shook his head sadly. "I've fallen for her, man. Hard. But I don't stand a chance. Not against you."

"She said that?" JC asked.

"She didn't have to." Chris replied. "I know you guys belong together. And that she loves you, and that you love her. But I can't just turn off my feelings like a faucet. It's going to take me a while."

"I understand that." JC said. "But you have to understand how hurt I was too."

"I do understand." Chris answered. "And for that, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you, or Caitlin. I just…" Chris trailed off.

JC nodded, and smiled slightly. "I'm sorry for decking you."

"No, you aren't." Chris retorted.

"In retrospect, I'm sure there was a more mature way to handle that, but at the time, I couldn't really think of one." JC said, unable to contain a smile.

"Obviously." Chris said, also smiling. "Are we cool?" He asked after a minute.

"Yeah, man. We're cool." JC said. "Just keep your mitts off my girl."

Chris looked over at JC, startled by the statement, but relaxed when he saw JC smiling. Chris put out a fist, and JC touched his fist to Chris'. "Consider it done." Chris replied. "Now let's go get this bastard."

(At the Love Shack, an hour later)

Caitlin was pacing the length of her family room. In the kitchen, she could hear Ray making phone calls. Every few seconds, he peeked around the corner to make sure Caitlin was still there. He had hidden her car keys and taken away her cell phone so they could spend "quality time" together. She silently thanked god that she was able to make the one phone call the night before, and hoped that Chris and JC had figured out what she was rambling on about.

The night before had been uncomfortable, but survivable. Ray had soon fallen asleep after they got into bed. Caitlin had lain awake most of the night, unable to relax and fall asleep with the boyfriend who had terrorized her lying next to her. She had managed to fend off his advances for most of the morning, and had taken a lot of extra time to shower and get ready, hoping to separate herself from Ray as much as possible.

"Sorry, honey." Ray said, coming back into the room. "Had to make a few phone calls to back home. But I'm done now."

"No problem." Caitlin said, sitting down on the couch as far away from Ray as possible.

"Why don't you come here and give me a little sugar." Ray said with a lazy smile. Caitlin grudgingly slid across the couch and kissed Ray lightly on the cheek. "How about some real sugar?" He growled. He grabbed Caitlin's shoulders and planted a kiss on her mouth roughly. Minutes later, he finally released her and she fought they urge to scrub a hand across her mouth. Instead, she shifted on the couch to move away from Ray slightly.

"So…what's the plan for today?" Caitlin asked, trying to sound light.

"I thought we would just hang out here. Spend some time together. Maybe grab some lunch a little later on." Ray said. "I have some things to talk to you about."

"Oh really?" Caitlin asked. "Like what?"

"Like…I want a straight answer on this guy you've been seeing." Ray said menacingly. "I listened to that answering machine message. That was more than a casual date. And your reaction was more than that. What's the deal?"

"I told you. We went out a few times, but it's nothing. He can't get over me." Caitlin said, hoping Ray would detect the double meaning. "It's nothing." She repeated.

"I think it was something." Ray said, standing up. "Who is he?"

"No one." Caitlin whispered.

"Who is he?" Ray repeated, pulling Caitlin to her feet roughly. "If he's nobody, it won't matter. Who is he?"

"No one important." Caitlin said. "He doesn't matter to…us." She practically choked on the last word.

"Tell me who he is so I can punish him." Ray demanded. When Caitlin stood silent, he balled up his fist and smashed it across her mouth. She staggered backwards, and barely caught herself before his fist connected again--this time with her stomach. She gasped for breath, doubled over, and tried to clear her head. When she stood upright a few moments later, Ray had unholstered his gun and was pointing it at her. "Tell me!" He roared.

(Outside the Love Shack)

JC and Chris snuck through the side yard to look through the windows into the main part of the house. They had arrived a few minutes before, and parked the rental car about a block away, so as not to draw attention. The house appeared to be in normal order, but they assumed that Caitlin and Ray were inside, and hadn't gone anywhere. Chris and JC had decided to survey the situation at the house before deciding on a course of action.

JC used sign language to tell Chris to watch the entrances while he peeked into the window. What he saw made the blood course through his veins, and his temper to spin out of control. He jumped back from the window and was ready to charge the house when Chris grabbed him, and after an elaborate pantomime, Chris looked through the window to see what had caused JC's reaction.

Chris observed Caitlin's terrified expression as Ray leveled the gun at her. He turned to face JC, and in whispers, they decided what to do. After several different drafts, they settled on a plan. Just as JC turned to walk back to the front of the house, he turned and stuck out his hand to Chris. They shook heartily, and with nods of understanding, went their separate ways to try and save the woman they both cared so much about.

JC stalked around to the other side of the house and pulled his key to the Love Shack out of his pocket. As quietly as possible, he slid the key into the lock and turned the knob. As he moved silently through the front door, he hoped that Chris was in position. He could hear Ray's thunderous yelling, and Caitlin's whimpers of pain. His heart broke as he heard her weeping, and almost charged into the room right then. But he knew he had to wait for just the right moment.

"I bet he's some pretty boy that 'makes love' to you, isn't he?" Ray screamed. "I bet you guys are all lovey-dovey and that you've never given me a second thought, have you? HAVE YOU?" JC winced as he heard Ray hit Caitlin again, and almost cried himself when he heard her body hit the floor.

"Please, Ray. Please…" JC could hear Caitlin's soft voice begging for Ray to stop. Deciding it was now or never, JC ran into the family room. Ray was leaning over Caitlin's prone form on the floor, and didn't see JC coming. JC used the entire force of his body to run headlong into Ray and throw him to the ground.

"Caitlin, back door, NOW!" JC roared to Caitlin as he and Ray wrestled on the floor.

Caitlin stood, slightly dazed, then jumped to action when she heard JC's scream, then saw Chris appear through the back porch. Chris grabbed her arm and started pulling her outside the house. "Chris, no! No! JC's in there! Ray will kill him!!" Caitlin screamed as tears streamed down her face. Chris pulled with all his might to get Caitlin outside the house and pulled out his cell phone. Holding Caitlin tightly he pulled her to the back of the yard, then dialed 911 to report the incident. The police assured him they would be there shortly, and he relayed this news to Caitlin.

"The cops are on the way. Are you alright?" Chris asked her. "Caitlin, are you alright?" She didn't reply, but stood, watching the house intently. "I'm taking you to the hospital." Chris insisted.

"NO!" She screamed. "Chris, he'll kill him. He'll kill JC. We have to stop them. NOW!" She roared, starting to run back to the house. Chris grabbed her around the waist and pulled her backwards.

"No! We wait here. JC doesn't want you hurt. He told me to get you out, so I'm keeping you out." Chris answered. "The cops will be here any second."

Caitlin continued to watch the house, Chris holding her back, and before a minute had passed, could hear sirens faintly in the distance. She had just begun to gain back her equilibrium when she heard the gunshots.

(Inside the Shack)

Ray was shocked at the force that knocked him over, but recovered quickly. Rolling onto his back, he punched at JC, who hovered above him, trying to pin him down. The gun had slithered across the floor and lay several feet away, completely forgotten by the two men who were now grappling on the floor.

"I'm going to kill you!" Ray shrieked. "You stole her from me!"

"Not if I kill you first, pal." JC said through clenched teeth. The two men got to their feet and began hitting each other in earnest. Ray was taller and stronger, but JC was more nimble and agile. They were well matched, and continued to hit each other, both defending their own vision of the woman in the garden. After a few minutes, they grew weary, and Ray spotted the gun half-lodged under the couch. Diving for it, he grabbed the gun and leveled it at JC.

"Freeze, asshole." He commanded. JC immediately seized his fighting stance and stood still. "You took her away, now I'm taking you away." Ray said, grinning madly.

"I don't think so." JC said levelly.

"Oh really, Romeo?" Ray spat.

"Really." JC said, inching closer to Ray.

"Stop right there!" Ray demanded. "I'm going to fucking kill you!"

JC could see the hand tightening on the gun, and dove for Ray's legs, Ray fired the gun several times as he flew through the air, before hitting his head on the floor and being knocked unconscious. JC, panting with exertion, got the gun away from Ray just as the police burst through the front door.

"Freeze!"

(Outside the house)

"NO!" Caitlin screamed, breaking free of Chris' grasp and running for the house. The gunshots had given her strength she never knew she had, and without thinking, she charged for the house to find JC.

When she reached the back door, she saw police swarming the house, and Ray's form lying on the ground. Without pause, she scanned the house to find JC. Not seeing him inside, she ran through the house for the front door.

"Miss! Miss! You can't be in here! Stop!" A police officer yelled. "We need to question you."

"Later." She whispered, stopping at the front door. Sitting on the front lawn, with a towel to his bleeding lip, was JC. He was speaking to several policemen, who surrounded him, but Caitlin didn't even see them. She only saw him.

As though sensing she was there, JC turned around and saw her. Getting to his feet unsteadily, he turned to face her. Caitlin raced down the front steps and into his waiting arms.

"Oh God…Oh God, I thought... I thought you were…" Caitlin breathed as she fell into his arms.

"Shhhh…baby…shhh…" JC comforted her. "It's okay now. It's all over. He won't hurt you again…"

"Oh God, you're hurt. What did he do to you?" Caitlin demanded, running her hands over JC's body, looking for injury.

"I'm fine, sweetie. I'm fine." JC said gently. "It's you I'm worried about. He hit you…are you okay?"

Caitlin nodded through sniffled and buried her face in JC's shoulder. "Oh god, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you…" Caitlin repeated over and over, snuggling into JC's arms. "I'm so sorry for everything. I'm so sorry…I love you…"

"Shhh...baby…it's okay. It's over now." JC said softly. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere. Never again." He stroked her hair and kissed her temple. "I love you so much…I love you too…I love you…"

Chris stood with the police officer that was questioning him, but couldn't take his eyes off JC and Caitlin. His heart broke anew when he saw them together, but knew that they were meant to be. JC had risked his life for her, and Caitlin had almost risked hers for him in return. Love like theirs was rare in their world of celebrity and publicity, and they would both hold on for dear life to be together. Chris knew that, and had to accept it.

Shaking his head sadly, he turned back to the officer to answer his question.

chapter twenty-five