Snippet #1891908

Damien was deafened by the crowd as they stood up applauding vigorously for who they thought the "hero" was. Truth was, he was here for the same as any fighter--for the money. He wasn't concerned with right or wrong. He had bills to pay, debts to pay off and the welfare of a child in his hands. He wanted to show her that tonight, what he went through on a regular basis, a day to day basis. This was his life, this was how he made a living. He didn't like it, he truly didn't want it. Yet, he would do anything for Dakota even if it meant cutting his life expectancy so that she would have a better future.

Damien had made his way past the barricades on the other side of the crowds that cheered and practically was canonizing him. Something he didn't enjoy particularly but didn't care enough to stop them. Limping on forwards, he saw Katelynn, she was practically running towards him with Treyze walking calmly behind her. Katelynn launched her small frame at his own. He instinctively grabbed the metal railing he was next to to brace himself. When she did hit, he hardly moved. Then he heard her voice, it was almost hoarse. He relinquished his hold on the rail and gently lifted it to place it along the back of her head, stroking her long brown strands.

"Don't scare me like that again, okay..." She whimpered, clutching him. This made him frown deeply. Was his wanting to show her who he really was a bad idea? "You promised you'd try not to get hurt. You should have just left as soon as he came in. I had to watch you get the life beat out of you." She was sniffling like she were crying. Lifting one of his hands he tried to wipe away the sweat his face had accumulated before resting his forehead against hers, taking in deep breaths.

"Shh..." He cooed, palming the sides of her face, trying to calm her down. "I know it got out of hand," He spoke softly and calmly to her, though there was a quivering in his voice most likely due to the large amounts of pain. "But I had to fight him, he was going to hurt you--I couldn't let him do that." He spoke to her, his voice cracking. Yet he still managed to joke. " I bet if Philip were here and he saw me do all that, he'd be glad I stopped when that Aussie stepped in." He tried to laugh but then clutched his side and shook his head. "Can't do that right now."

Treyze stepped up to his friend and looked down at him, smiling happy that he was still alive after that confrontation. But sad that it happened at all. "That was not slated man, are you okay?" Damien nodded inhaling a deep breath. " Yeah...But I think you may need to drive us to my place. I have one more thing to show Katelynn before I drive her back to her cabin." He panted, every muscle aching in him. The right side of his face swollen slightly and deeply bruised. Treyze nodded. "Okay buddy, I'll get your money and your things and I'll meet you outside." Damien just nodded, still holding Kate close. When Treyze had stepped away Damien spoke to Katelynn in a hushed voice, stroking her hair soothingly with bruised fingers.

"You know when he hit me in my kidney...I could hardly breathe. Every time I tried I felt like I was drowning; couldn't move. My body just wanted to lie there. But what you said to me in the bathroom, you said I need you to do it for me. Because I don't think I can handle it if something goes wrong. Every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, but it kept repeating in my head...I couldn't let him hurt you, I couldn't give up." Damien confessed.