Chapter Three
Brian watched as Kevin paced across the living room- AGAIN. Five steps, stop at third couch cushion, turn, back toward the other end. Stop at kitchen, look at front door, turn again.
"Kev, will you stop?" Great. He'd earned a prize-winning glare.
"It's three-thirty, Bri. She's not here."
"Thanks- I needed that clarification." Another deadly glare- just what he needed. "Brian-" He stopped abruptly at the sound of the doorbell. "She's here!" He ran to the door, followed closely by Brian, who leapt over the back of the couch he'd been sitting on.
"Ker-Bear!" Kevin engulfed her small frame with a tight hug. "Don't you EVER scare me like that again! Are you okay? What happened?" She couldn't answer any of his questions at the moment. She was too busy turning purple from lack of circulation.
"Kevy" She squeaked out, "Too tight!"
"What?" Confused, he stepped back, loosening his grip.
"Geez, Kevin. I mean, I know you're upset, but did you have to cut off circulation?" She gasped, getting her breath back.
"Sorry!"
Once Brian had given her his share of hugs, too, the Brow Beating ensued- this time with Brian's assistance.
"What the hell were you thinking driving down here by yourself in the middle of December?" Kevin demanded. You scared the sh-crap out of me!" He supposed "crap" still counted as cussing in Brian's book, but at least it received less of a glare.
"Umm... that I needed to get out of there?" She offered. She wasn't spilling the story yet-no way. She didn't need these two in jail for assault after they beat David to a pulp. When she told, it'd be Brian. At least she knew he took the Ten Commandments seriously.
"Kara, come on." Brian tried. " I talked to Megan, and she told me everything." Kevin shot him a look- when had he talked to Megan?
"Nice try, Bri, but you wouldn't be asking if you already knew." Kara sighed. "Besides, she doesn't break her word- we all know that." Kevin and Brian glanced at one another. Damn, she meant business this time. They'd have to come up with some new tactics.
"Look, I'm sorry I worried you this morning, but I'm fine." This earned her duplicate raised eyebrows. Who did she think she was kidding? "Really, I am. I'm just really tired."
"Fine. We'll let it go." Brian offered, ignoring Kevin's incredulous look. "For now. You WILL tell us, though."
"Sure." Kara yawned. " Whatever."
"Okay, baby." Kevin lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her up the stairs. "Let's get you situated." She was awfully light, and he could feel her ribs poking through.
He set her down, then cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him.
"Have you been eating?" She started playing with the hem of her shirt, and he had his answer. "Kara-"
" I know, I know. I need to eat." She looked up at him tiredly. "I will, okay? Can I please just go to sleep?" He started to protest, but stopped when he saw the dark circles under her eyes.
"Yeah. Get some sleep, okay?" She gave him a weary smile.
"That, cuz, will not be a problem."
"Good. Now, do you need anything else?"
"Can I borrow something to wear? I really don't want to go and unpack..."
"Hang on a sec." He disappeared from view, returning a couple of minutes later with some of Kristin's sweats. They'd still be big, but they'd be better than his. "Here you go, kiddo. I think these should work." The only answer was the sound of her deep breathing. She was out. He set the clothes on the dresser before pulling a blanket over her.
"Sleep tight, Ker-Bear." He whispered, kissing her forehead. He closed the door gently and padded downstairs quietly.
"How's she doing?" Kevin frowned in response. "That bad?"
"She hasn't been eating. She's too thin to begin with, Bri."
"Well, we'll work on that tonight." Brian grinned. "She knows she can't be at a Backstreet Barbeque without pigging out!" Kevin grinned back at him.
"True enough. We'll wake her up when they get here, huh?"
"You got it."