Philip was surprised when Kate came rushing in his room giving him a hug. Good thing he had already finished changing his clothes; it would have been bad if all of these happened if he was only wearing a towel. He totally got rid of the thought as he wondered why Katelynn paid him a visit. He didn’t get a good view of Kate as she entered; still he returned the hug. He just had an intuition that something is not right.

"It happened all over again." She said trying to keep her tears a bay. "Damien was never really interested in me...he's just looking to 'connect with Izzie'. I heard him and I saw them."

Anger was building inside Philip again however he didn’t want for Kate to notice. He just wanted to comfort her at that very moment. “So this is how Damien intend to do it?” he thought to himself. He gave Kate another tight squeeze before she let go. As Kate sat on his bed, he did the same and placed his left arm around her waist. As his left hand found hers, he intertwined their fingers and rested them on her lap.

"Am I that horrible? Does my money out shine me so much that I won't find someone?"

Philip turned his head; disagreeing to every word she said. For Philip, Kate is the sweetest girl he had ever known. She gives important to minute details of his life when other people (like his parents) didn’t even bother. She appreciates his art more than anyone else. She has the ability to see through people when others can’t. Moreover, she had never failed him in any aspect.

Knowing the reason behind it all, Philip wanted to tell Kate why Damien was acting like that. But he realized he can’t be honest with her now, it felt so wrong if he’s the one to tell her what’s going. He still wanted to give Damien the opportunity to explain even though there’s only a very slight chance of him doing so.

"You are the only one who's always there for me. Cares about how I feel. Is actually interested in what I do and doesn't just tell me things because you think that's what I want to hear." Kate said softly looking at the spot in front of her before turning to Phillip. "What makes you so different? Why don't you disregard my feelings, thoughts, and wants like they do? Take advantage of me? Because apparently I am that naive and stupid that people think they can get away with it."

Upon hearing these words, Philip wanted to express how he really felt deep inside.

“Because, I…” he paused, deciding on what to say next. He urged to tell her his true feelings but Damien’s weakened state flashed before him. “… am your best friend, Kate.” He staid hesitantly and looked down on the floor. “and I know you would do the same.” Philip continued.

He felt really stupid saying these words. He just wished that Katelynn would not read in between them.

At the mention of giving a way his Les Paul--let alone a Les Paul with three signatures of influential English-rock band mates that swayed the music of the 1980's. He thought he might have to reach across the table and slap the dumb ass expression off her face. She looked like she was having a stroke mentally, like her brain had exploded in her skull. He inhaled his cigarette letting out the smoke in short, jagged breaths. Mostly from pain. He ground the cigarette into the table, leaving only a philter left while he took another drink of Bacardi before he even heard a word more from Izzy.

"Enough questions," She rather bluntly said. Of course Damien was more than used to her crude way of speaking. He rather enjoyed picking on her for it. God knew she needed to learn humility. "What do you want?" She questioned him, she was probably still stuck on the Gibson. Damien put one finger up to silence her, as he polished off the bottle and screwed the cap on like it was simply a water bottle. He sat the bottle down, nodding his head as his taste buds enjoyed the flavor of the Bacradi rolling inside of his mouth like rolling tides on the beach.

"You're probably wondering, where the hell does this guy get off claiming he's poor when he's got such a big, shiny knife--much less a Les Paul?" He feigned excitement and smiled at her. He would appear very tired, not just physically but emotionally--he was a speeding train about to derail. "I won bets." He put it simply before he stood up again, this time lifting his shirt slightly to reveal the elongated incision that covered a larger scar. "You don't go to prison and not learn a thing or two. You kind of have to." He let his shirt fall back down as he reseated himself. " I love my mother, I do. But to her--her boyfriend or husband or whatever she has, is more to her than her children. Fucking food-stamps don't buy diapers and I barely make enough in my 9 to 5--just enough to survive with my baby girl. So, I dabble in gambling and betting on the side. The guitar and signatures just happen to be in the same damn jackpot. I got the guitar, my friend gave me the concert tickets cause--well, he doesn't care much for Motörhead. " He frowned\ somewhat fumbling with the bottle. "The knife I took off someone. I literally--took it off someone. I stole it. I was younger then, more stupid I guess?" He laughed before mildly adjusting himself and sighing. " It was before I found out I had cancer. Just thought I had bad kidney stones."

Damien stood up and propped his foot on the edge of the picnic table and re-sheathed his knife in its leather holster. Pulling his pant leg back down, he stepped casually to the side of the table still somewhat smiling as he took her hand and shook it. "You caught me. I'm being nice. Somebody's got to, right? Besides, can't take it when I'm gone." He released her hand and patted her on the back as he walked away. He headed back to the cabin, he needed to shower. He could also interact with the rest of the crew that was inside. He pulled the door open, seeing that everyone had transitioned elsewhere, that the kitchen was empty once again--he began to cook for himself. His eyes staring vacantly as he thought about Kate and frowned deeply. His face being a bit lit up by the flush to his cheeks, but it belied his condition. Sweat poured from his pores down his face. He kept trying to dry his face, but his fever was burning a hole through him.

Izzie's face remained stone cold as she puffed on the cigarette held in her hand. Internal turmoil did not contaminate her outward expression--if there was one thing she was good at, it was that. But he merely raised one finger as if to silence her, and she suppressed the urge to reach over and break the finger. His smug mannerisms were not amusing her. He wanted something out of her, clearly, but he wasn't going to get it. Probably lyin' out his ass about the guitar anyway. He leisurely drank down the rest of the Bacardi as Izzie regarded him in an utterly blasé, unimpressed manner. "Take your fuckin' time," she vehemently growled, eager to be rid of his company once he figured out she wasn't interested in whatever it was he wanted.

Finally, he set to speaking. "You're probably wondering, where the hell does this guy get off claiming he's poor when he's got such a big, shiny knife--much less a Les Paul?" he gave a tired smile. "Not really," Izzie remarked flatly. "What's your point."

"I won bets." He uttered three simple syllables, standing up once more, but this time he didn't go for the huge, fancy-ass knife. Instead, he lifted his shirt slightly, displaying a particularly extensive scar on his abdomen. "You don't go to prison and not learn a thing or two. You kind of have to." He released his shirt and it fell back into position as he took his seat once more. "I love my mother, I do." Izzie raised an eyebrow--they were once more veering into territory that...had nothing to do with what she'd demande--er, asked. His feelings towards his parents were not related to his reasoning for spontaneously deciding to go up to Izzie and start talking to her--Or are they? That'd be weird. But probably not. " But to her--her boyfriend, or husband, or whatever she has, is more to her than her children. Fucking food-stamps don't buy diapers and I barely make enough in my 9 to 5--just enough to survive with my baby girl. So I dabble in gambling and betting on the side. The guitar and signatures just happen to be in the same damn jackpot. I got the guitar, my friend gave me the concert tickets cause--well, he doesn't care much for Motörhead. The knife I took off someone. I literally--took it off someone. I stole it. I was younger then, more stupid I guess?" He paused, giving something of a laugh, followed by a wistful sigh. "It was before I found out I had cancer. Just thought I had bad kidney stones."

Izzie was not sure what to think at that. Nor what to say. Even she was aware that when someone told you they had cancer, you couldn't respond...well, the way Izzie normally conversed. Cancer of the kidneys--one of the more difficult forms of cancer, for it could not be treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and as far as Izzie was aware the only real way to treat it, if one was lucky and it was caught in the earlier stages, was to surgically remove the whole damn kidney. Either way, not something you could respond to with 'cancer, eh? Tough it out pussy'. But it seemed he'd come to terms with it--and didn't need Izzie to go all sympathetic on him. So she kept her silence at this, and fortunately soon after he stood back up, shoving the knife back into its sheath and then walked over to her side of the table, holding out his hand. Izzie looked from up and then back up to his face. "You caught me, I'm being nice," he said with a partial smile. "Somebody's got to, right? Besides, can't take it when I'm gone." He made to pat her on the back, and then began to walk away, leaving her still irritated and wondering what the hell had compelled that...whole thing. His intentions confused her...but then, were she to be fully honest with herself (and she avoided it as much as possible) the intentions of others often did.

“Because, I…” he paused as if thinking about an answer. “… am your best friend, Kate.” He staid hesitantly and looked down on the floor. “and I know you would do the same.” Philip continued.

She looked at their hands intertwined. "Do you remember when we we're ten and my parents had that big party on night for my dad's publishing firm, I told you looked handsome in your suit. And you told me I looked green because of my dress." I said with a small laugh at the memory. "You hesitated just like you did just now, like there was something else you wanted to say. I would never ask what was really on your mind but I'd just know there was something else floating in that mind of yours."

Looking at him. "That's one the many things I've learned about you over the years. Which have to say there's a lot. But, there's probably a lot in that mind of yours...the things you edit before you say it, that I don't know about. I'm okay with that though because I know eventually you'll tell me whats on your mind, like you did that night at the party."

Katelynn laid back on the bed looking up at the ceiling in silence for a while, as her mind went back to the situation with Damien. She shook her head, Kate wasn't going to waste her time thinking about someone who didn't even bother to consider her feelings. But her caring personality wouldn't let her as she thought about the very fact that he was sick and should have the right to be with whomever he wanted, which was Izzie apparently.

Suddenly she remembered something she meant to tell Phillip yesterday something big. "Phillip, remember when you said you wished you had a way to continue your art and come to the New York with me. Well, I sent in a example of your work...and spoke to the my father and we spoke to the dean of admissions at Columbia." She said biting her bottom lip. "My father explained your situation with École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts and I told them how dedicated you were to art and looking forward to studying in Paris at a college, that it was a passion of yours."

"The dean agreed to consider you for entrance for the fall semester, if you send out a portfolio of work with an application in three weeks." She said looking over at him from her spot on the bed. "I really think you should do it....I mean not just because I am going to Julliard but Columbia is one of the best art schools in the country and I know if you show them your work they will be just as amazed as I am."

After feeding himself a hardy omelet , Damien was still feeling the effects of his cancer wearing away at him. The nausea making his stomach rolling, his blood boiling in his veins as his fever burned on. Damien felt dizzy, he wasn't even sure he could stand up again as the room felt like it was now spinning in circles around him. It was like a bad pill trip and it didn't give him any reprieve, any relief from the sheer pain in his abdomen. It certainly made the nausea and the vertiginous effects all the more impacting on his sense of self. So weary was he, that he began to absentmindedly drool on his self as he sat there leaning over his empty plate his eyes beginning to roll into the back of his head.

But giving into pain was not something Damien knew well. Jerking back from the brink of collapsing over in his chair, his foot stabilizing his body as it leaned gradually to its left. He was in full adrenaline mode now, but the pain was such that it could not be overridden. Nothing could stop this infernal pain. Damien went to stand, taking his plate with both hands--almost not certain that he could carry it with just one alone. He stood and turned in one, quick and almost fluid motion--almost. Damien collapsed to the floor taking the plate with him in a clatter.

He lie there on the floor for only a few moments, breathing in heaves and gulps before willing himself to push his body up off the floor. His thick, sturdy and muscular arms trembled as pain tore through him--telling him to stay down. He picked himself up off the floor as he had done many nights, and like those nights in his trailer with his sister, he hardly knew where he was in that moment--just the pain and incredible loneliness that he felt. He washed off the plate, letting the water just run down the face of the ceramic platter before shutting the sink off and stumbling off down the hall towards his room.

All he could hear was the dull throb of his own heart crashing against his ear drums. His hand gripped the railing of the stairs as he climbed them one step at a time, so hard his knuckles turned white. He got to the top of the stair case when he felt a surge of intense pain and covered his mouth and hurriedly raced to his room. He burst through the door and rushed to his sink where he immediately began vomiting a dark red bile. His body stiffened with each of his hyperventilating spasms, releasing the blood as it rushed past his lips. Soon the sink was full of the deep carmine fluid and Damien slipped to his knees. He shook as though from hypothermia while he slipped his shirt off and then out of his other clothes--the difficulty increasing.

Sitting on his posterior, one knee bent and nearly compressed to his chest--his back against the shower wall, his head leaned back with his lips parted and a stream of blood running from the corner of his mouth down the length of his body while the other leg lay outstretched and his arms dead by his sides. He could barely make out shapes anymore, could hardly feel the sting of blistering hot water as it pitter-pattered off his skin like each drop was a bb. His head slumped forwards, the world around him darkening as his consciousness lost the fight to stay awake any longer.

(MusicLover... are you going to reply with Kris...?)

Once again, Damien awoke to the bitter sting of cold water splashing him on his head and pooling on his lap. He drew in a deep breath, as though he had forgotten to breathe the entire time he had been out. Sputtering as he raised a hand to shield his face from the torrent of water as he tried to push himself up off the floor once again. In standing up, his body trembled from the coolness of the water. His breaths left jagged and short as his jaw clattered against itself. But it wasn't from being cold, at least not on the outside. He reached up and grabbed the shower head, and leaned his face up to the water. It was then he realized, he felt numb. He began to wash himself and once out of the shower he placed on a new pair of his old boot-cut jeans and a black cotton shirt that fit snugly over his physique revealing how define he actually was.

Washing away the blood in the sink, brushed his teeth and put on his cologne, Acqua di Gio by Armani. Damien ventured into his room, sitting down on the edge of his bed, sitting there a few minutes before he looked over at the guitar he had propped against the wall. He stared at it for what felt like the longest time before finally, he reached out and took it up pulling it over to himself. He strummed the chords halfheartedly, thinking about the other night that he had kissed Kate. That moment encapsulated by that kiss. That moment he had allowed himself to be free for a moment, to grant himself the freedom to have what he wanted. Many people wondered if he had a Les Paul Delux Studio bass guitar, why in the hell would he prefer this rustic thing. The answer was rather simple really. He played for his sister every night with this rather plain and ordinary instrument. He also played for her with his cello.

He tuned the guitar, starting with the A-string. Placing the first finger of his left hand just behind the fifth fret on the bottom E string. That was an A note. Keeping his finger on that fret. Now, he picked the fifth and sixth strings in turn, gently adjusting the fifth string tuning peg until the two notes were the same. He then placed the first finger of his left hand just behind the fifth fret on the A string. That was a D note. Tuning the 4th string, the D note, to that. He continued tuning the G, B and E strings until they were in tune. He had a single tear running down his face. Why was he letting the one thing he deserved slip away so easily? He swallowed and wiped the tear away before he laced up his Bate's Tactical boots and grabbed his car keys.

He roamed through the house--searching for Kate, venturing through the many rooms of the cabin. In one hand he carried his keys, in the other the guitar. He had wondered around the whole estate; from the theater, to the living areas to the grotto.When he didn't find her, he wouldn't be deterred, he wouldn't give up. He then went to her room, knocking on her door When she didn't answer, he opened the door only to find her room empty. He closed the door and then walked to the many other rooms, listening for her voice. When he did finally hear her voice, it emanated from Philips room.

"I really think you should do it....I mean not just because I am going to Julliard but Columbia is one of the best art schools in the country and I know if you show them your work they will be just as amazed as I am." He heard Kate say, even through the door he could hear her voice was full of..infatuation. He wanted to stop, he wanted to quit and leave her be. A part of himself kept telling himself that it was for the best. But that half was the part that locked him out all year, the part that kept his tongue silent from saying anything to her even when he would be right next to her.

He stepped up to the door, he knocked on the door resonating from the other side with confidence but this time it wasn't as timid as before. This time he wasn't going to hide who he was anymore. He was going to be truthful to her--even if it made her hate who or what he was, at least then she would understand. At least then she would have some reason to want to stay away from him. He he had tried just putting her off, tried ignoring her--but he couldn't do it for the whole summer. He had to come clean with her.

"Kate..."He closed his eyes and ran his palm against the door as he mustered the strength to ask her to take a look at his life, at what he had to face, what he had to do on a daily basis. " I know you're in there, and I know you're probably really confused about the way I've been acting--but I want to show you something. Can you please come with me? " He asked, his breath catching in his throat. " Please?" He pleaded. Damien's head rested against the door frame as he awaited her response, his eyes held shut in anxiety.

"Kate..." She heard making her freeze at the voice she heard behind the door. It was Damien, and he sounded so tired yet confident and desperate at the same time. " I know you're in there, and I know you're probably really confused about the way I've been acting--but I want to show you something. Can you please come with me? " He asked. " Please?" He pleaded.

Katelynn sat up looking at Phillip for a moment, as her thoughts ran as her thoughts ran rampant in her mind. What else could he want to tell her. Was he coming here to unintentionally rub salt in her already sore wounds.

Whatever it was, she decided he deserved to hear it face to face. She squeezed Phillip's hand gently in thanks before giving him a pointed look, "This conversation isn't over...I am serious about everything I said... Just think about it okay?" She said seriously as she let go of his hand standing up.

Then Kate slowly made her way towards the door opening it and quickly moving past Damien walking down the hall as he kept pace with her. "You don't have to explain or show me anything...I understand. I saw you and Izzie....I get it." She said without looking at him as she made her way down the hall towards her room. "She's what you want, I am not mad about that. What I am upset about is the fact that you saw the feelings I had for you and pretty much threw them back in my face and did what you wanted to do. Which apparently is Izzie." Kate said not caring about what she had implied. Her emotions were running wild in her.

"I told you what how my first boyfriend dumped me like my feelings meant nothing...and how he went and got a new girlfriend the next day. You knew that and still...." She shook her head going to open the door to her room. His actions had hit a sore spot in Katelynn's heart, reminding her of how the very first relationship she was in went sour.

Kris sighed, shaking his head rubbing his chest. "Fine, Rose." He said with a small barley noticeable smile. He didn't want to piss her off anymore then he already had. "Sorry Kazu." He said reluctantly.

He walked over dropping his plate in the sink. Just then Ray came in, "Hey Ray. What's up dude you going somewhere or something?" Kris said seeing his bags and everything.

"Stand our ground with hate and fury, fear that comes will die..."

It seemed today the typical ear-shattering extreme metal was not on Izzie's playlist. Okay, it was still ear-shattering, but High On Fire's motley amalgamation of sludge metal, doom metal, and straight-up Motörhead-style heavy metal could not be considered extreme by anyone except for those whom Izzie liked to refer to fondly as 'complete fucking pussies'. Nevertheless, however, that day (by which was meant the past few hours, for it had indeed only been a matter of hours since yesterday had become today...much though it felt like years) Izzie had run through Slayer, High On Fire, D.O.A., Doom, The Ramones, and countless others, without so much as approaching the brutality of Death or Carcass--but even Izzie had days where she preferred to spend a little time listening to something less abrasive. Even if 'less abrasive' still constituted the harder variants of metal and hardcore punk, excluding of course immortal classics such as the aforementioned Ramones...

At the time, she wasn't thinking such trivial thoughts, of course. Much though she hated it, she was still turning over that most peculiar encounter with Damien Lewis, trying to make sense of it. No matter how she looked at it, it just didn't come out right. She couldn't think of anything the guy could possibly want from her, being as dirt-poor as she was...her guitar? No, that wasn't it. After all, she'd seen him emerge into the cabin with a guitar of his own that was probably in better shape than hers, and hell, he apparently even had a goddamn Les Paul back home. One that for, whatever reason, he was offering to her for nothing. No. Not nothing. He only said nothing. The offer of the guitar must have been a lure of some kind, a ruse to make her lower her defences and fall for whatever he was playing at. Well, she was pleased to say, he'd failed. She wasn't buyin' it. 'Being nice', my ass. No, he wanted something out of her, and he wasn't getting it. Whatever it was.

And so it was, with such triumphant and utterly misguided thoughts, murmuring along to Rumours of War, that Izzie at last saw fit to descend once more upon the cabin. She zeroed in immediately on the kitchen, deciding it was now time to satisfy her cavernous appetite. Upon entry, she noted the presence of a number of others. Alex, watching what seemed to be something of a tense situation between Kazuya, Kris, and Rose.

Indeed, Alex had only just received his answer. "Nah I think we are the first ones up dude," Kris replied to the other man's query. "Unless she was outside or something." Alex nodded. "Probably. Thanks." And with a sigh, he went about looking for a bite to eat, figuring it would be best to wait until Izzie came here (and he knew her appetite in the morning, she definitely would eventually). He had only just secured a hold on a box of Poptarts--this place had a hell of a lot of sweet foods, that was for sure. Well, I guess one morning of it won't kill me, he shrugged, tugging the box out of the cupboards to pop them in the toaster as Kazuya emerged in the kitchen. "Mornin'," Alex greeted the Japanese gentleman...and then Kris saw fit to do the same, in rather a different manner.

"Did you need something Kazu or did you fry your brain with one of your inventions?" Kris spoke with malice and evident dislike with every word, such that even Alex turned his attention from the Poptarts to see just what the hell had earnt his ire in such intensity. And right afterwards, the answer emerged. "Because trust me when I tell you she's not interested in a babbling moron." 'She', of course, being Rose. Evidently Kris had mistaken (or perhaps, correctly identified) some action on Kazuya's part as interest in Rosemary--which didn't excuse the venom in Kris' words. But it came about that Alex didn't need to intervene to calm the situation, because Rosemary saw fit to take that responsibility upon herself. By pelting him with grapes. I guess that works, Alex mused amusedly, unable to contain a smile at the scene. Rose spoke loudly and forwardly, but it was honestly just undone by the fact she'd decided to underpin it with a smile and a hail of grapes, of all things. But hey, it diffused the situation, so Alex could care less until Izzie walked in as well, guitar in hand.

"Spent all night out and about again, eh?" Alex ventured--and Izzie's reply confirmed that, at the very least, her irritation at him had largely eroded. "It was nice and I didn't feel like sleeping." She looked at him, holding an opened box of poptarts and a two-pack of the snacks, and then reached out to take the entire box from him. "Sweet, breakfast," she muttered, carrying the box with her over to the table, tugging a foil-wrapped pack from the box and setting it down in front of her. She sat down and slowly unwrapped the foil cover, glancing around the room from time to time like a suspicious dragon fiercely guarding its hoard. "You know, your metabolism ain't gonna last forever," Alex commented with a wry smile. "Someday you're not gonna be able to polish off an entire pack of those things without any consequences."

"I could care less about someday. Today is today, and today I'm hungry."

"Practically Zen, that," Alex nodded sagely. Izzie replied by tearing off almost a good half of the first poptart and shoving it right into her mouth, rapidly chewing it down and swallowing it. "Nope," she remarked wisely upon the completion of this. "Not Zen. Just breakfast." And she chomped down the rest of the poptart.

"You don't have to explain or show me anything...I understand. I saw you and Izzie....I get it." Katelynn told him abrasively, unexpectedly throwing Damien through a wild loop. He was so caught off guard he just stood there without a word, not even turned around. His eyes had winced, brows furrowing and a look of puzzlement on his face before he finally turned around only to be greeted with more volatile words laced with venom. "She's what you want, I am not mad about that. What I am upset about is the fact that you saw the feelings I had for you and pretty much threw them back in my face and did what you wanted to do. Which apparently is Izzie."

Suddenly, everything made sense. She was there, she had heard him. Only, it was not what she expected. Still, her words bit more into him and drew blood to the surface, causing him to choke, forcing his eyes to close and him to shake his head while drawing both of his lips inwards. He let her yell, let her express her self, while silently following her to her room.He would stop outside of her door, like there was some kind of barrier preventing his attempt to go after her. "I told you what how my first boyfriend dumped me like my feelings meant nothing...and how he went and got a new girlfriend the next day. You knew that and still...." He nodded his head, silent to her suffering which--maybe made things worse as it would look or come off as him being cold and agreeing with everything she had said before started to talk back.

"I see..." He said plainly, his eyes not looking at her but rather the floor. They would seem too tired to care, or perhaps to hurt by what she had said to him. "That's what you think, huh?" He managed a halfhearted smile before he shook his head, before chuckling but it wasn't truly because it was funny he was laughing because he had made a complete mess of things. " I always thought I was bad at explaining things, but this..." He gestured to the moment. " This is complete bullshit." He put it bluntly then stared at Kate, his eyes hardening. " You know that Izzy thing? Yeah, I was giving away a guitar. No one was talking to the girl, she looked about out of place here as I do. I was trying to be friends with her--that is what this is all about, friendships right?" He had pointed down. His voice was growing more harsh and frustrated but it wasn't entirely towards Kate--more so himself.

"You keep walking towards your room; either to hide from me or the world, or just to slam the door in my face--I have my keys in my hand for a reason. I told you, I am going to show you something. I'm done talking, because apparently talking..." He shook his head, his eyes expunging the hurt like water seeping from a sponge when squeezed. "Talking is not what I am good at. So I am going to show you Kate. Will you let me show you?" He said sternly, offering his hand out to her. There was something different about his face. It was resolute, but she could see the cracks in his stone cold face that hid the sheer tiredness, the pain that she had inflicted blindly believing him to have thrown away her affections without regard. But his countenance showed also, a calmness a quietness before a storm.

"I see..." He said plainly, his eyes not looking at her but rather the floor. Katelynn heart dropped at his uncaring response to what she just said to him. "That's what you think, huh?" He managed a halfhearted smile before he shook his head, before chuckling.

"Of course I do, I sa-" She started to say softly only for him to interrupt her and continue with what he was saying.

"I always thought I was bad at explaining things, but this..." He gestured to the moment. " This is complete bullshit." He said then stared at Kate, his eyes hardening. Kate's eyes widened, never hearing him speak to her like that before.

"You know that Izzy thing? Yeah, I was giving away a guitar. No one was talking to the girl, she looked about out of place here as I do. I was trying to be friends with her--that is what this is all about, friendships right?" His voice was growing more harsh and frustrated. She stared at him not knowing what to say, she was feeling horrible about what she had said...what she had assumed was going on. She could only imagine what he thought of her now...

"You keep walking towards your room; either to hide from me or the world, or just to slam the door in my face--I have my keys in my hand for a reason. I told you, I am going to show you something. I'm done talking, because apparently talking..." He shook his head. "Talking is not what I am good at. So I am going to show you Kate. Will you let me show you?" He said sternly, offering his hand out to her. There was something different about his face from the one she had seen last night.

Last night he had seemed vulnerable, unsure and timid...even sad. Now his face seemed resolute and confident, yet she could see the pain her words had inflicted on him. His eyes seemed to be trying to will her to come with him.

Slowly nodding her head, Katelynn quietly spoke. "Okay." She said slowly placing her hand in his. "You can show me." She said avoiding looking into his eyes feeling embarrassed at how she had acted in a moment of weakness, afraid to see the hurt and disappointment in his eyes. As he pulled her down the hall her eyes looked to where Phillip's room was hoping she wouldn't end up there in a heap of tears agian, by the end of this.

"Okay." She said, her voice answered causing his face to almost reflexively twinge as though in pain, a different pain from his side. He felt her hand gingerly slide into his. It had a hesitancy about it. "You can show me." Katelynn had added, but the damage was done, and the mental domino effect had begun for Damien. Now, not only anger at himself--perhaps her for making an ass out of him--but fear ruled him. He felt like he was in a balancing act; whichever way he fell could paint the picture he wanted to show her in a light that could utterly tarnish her impression of him one of the sweet, caring man she had kissed--or the man that was firm, strong and that probably scared her more than made her feel comfortable.

His calloused fingers gently coiled around her small hand, and he led her from the room. He noticed she could no longer look him in the eyes for fear of retaliation or shame. That bothered him further; agitated him like a nail that begged to be ripped off but he knew if he had said anything further--that nail could tear off into something much deeper. Instead, he led her down the hall, paying no heed to the glance of uncertainty that she gave Philip. He needed all his courage, all his "confidence" for what he was about to do. Leading her over to the car, he opened the door for her to slip inside the plush leather interior which was as black as its fearsome outer facade. He then closed her door and slipped around to his side, opening the door he first slid the guitar behind the bench seat and then slipped inside closing the door.

Damien gripped the wheel, he was out of breath and she could probably hear him hyperventilating. For some reason or the other, he felt like he was kidnapping her. He wet his lips by quickly licking them; his mouth was fast becoming dry as anxiety kicked into overdrive. His knuckles tightened on the hard rubber exterior of the racing wheel. His knuckles increased the pressure until his knuckles were snow white before he drew in a deep breath and spoke calmly to her. “Where I am going to take you first..." His foot uncontrollably bounced. "There' a lot of...activity, that's, uhm, well it’s illegal." He wiped his mouth as he uttered the last bit nervously."This isn't a choice..." Suddenly his leg stopped, just stopped and his eyes became more vacant yet more aware. He then looked at Katelynn herself. "It's what I have to do, not what I want to do." He gave emphasis on have, and he could not give it any more emphasis than what he did.

He took out his cell, pushed several buttons and hit TALK. The phone rang and rang until a familiar face answered."Hey, what's up? Yeah. Yeah. Hey Treyze, what do you have for me tonight? Three?" Damien sighed, contemplating but his resolve to shoe Kate who and what he really was had become paramount. "Fine, I'll do three. Alright man, I'll be there in a while." Damien flipped the phone closed and slid it back into his pocket. He glanced at her his eyes full of a failing hope.

His head turned away, momentarily looking down. He was ashamed of what he was involved with. Not for the reason, just the method. He pushed the key into the ignition and turned over. The car rumbled to life, reverberating Katelynn herself who would not have been so accustomed to the entire frame of the car convulsing from the sheer power of the pure-blooded muscle car. Damien was completely unfazed, he seemed more at home with the roaring engine than really anywhere. He slid on some dark shades and looked over at her while he relaxed his right arm along the back of the bench seat. " You may want to buckle up." He would tell her, his voice changing once again. This time it was suave and calm, like the engine was blocking all of his fears and angst. Nevertheless, he was right, as he told her he was immediately backing up in a hasty manner before he spun the car around while 'palming' the steering wheel rather than actually gripping it. The car jolted to a controlled stop, having backed all the way back down the driveway--spun around, the road was now before them. With a 9 second car, there was not enough road for Damien who eagerly revved the monstrous engine, causing an even louder reaction.

While in idle, the car sputtered and sound like firecrackers erupting all around them. Damien's expression was one he carried most of the time; looking towards an uncertain future with a smile. Shifting the car into drive was like strapping on a rocket. The car lurched forwards, lifting the front half off the ground momentarily from the powerhouse of the torque working its magic in that moment as he sped forwards. The car came down abruptly filling their veins full of exhilaration and excitement, while leaving a wall of smoky haze behind them as well as two distinct tire tracks in their wake. In a quarter of a mile, one thousand three-hundred twenty feet--four hundred and six meters they had gone in less than 8 seconds. When the car had effectively landed he decelerated only after looking over at Katelynn with a daredevil grin. Facing back ahead he sped onwards at a mild 60 miles an hour.

He took her through a city she thought she knew, across highways she could recall, down avenues she remembered from her younger days. But as they passed the city's grander sights, it would be more or less like falling off the map. The sunshine of the other parts of the day spent cruising the city she remembered--only to be replaced by the evening spent in the darker alleys that Damien called 'home'. Down streets full of foreclosed houses, rusted trailers and cheap motels. He eventually drew to the docks, to a warehouse, where ironically enough, there were other cars such as Damien's that were equally as ornate and well cared for as his was. He tapped her hand. "I'll get your door." He said softly to her opening his door. As soon as he had, an outpouring of rap and hip hop music flooded into the cars spacious interior along with the shouts from a large grouping of people. He walked around to her door and took Katelynn's hand and helped her up out of the car and into what his life was.

"Okay, so there are a couple of things I have to tell you." He said, reaching past her and into the backseat pulling out a bag of clothes. "You're going to see some pretty rough stuff in there. You stay close to me or Treyze. You don't ask questions but to either of us, you understand? It's for your safety. You go in there asking things to random people, they will think you're a narc--and nobody wants that." He said casually, coaching her on the unwritten rules of his life.

He then took her hand and made his way to the door pounding on the rusted metal surface. Out stepped a taller and well-built black male whose arms could not be exaggerated. He sported a pencil-line goatee and studded ear piercings. The man took one look at Damien and smiled brightly throwing out his hand in which Damien graciously accepted and the two drew close as though to hug or embrace each other but neither lost their grip. Releasing they stepped back, Treyze looking Damien up and down carefully.

"Damn man, you look like the walking dead or something." Treyze called Damien out on his condition. "You sure you can fight tonight, I can always get one of the pledges to take a hit. Lord knows they get slapped around like bitches enough one of them might man up." Treyze laughed heartily causing Damien to smile in response.

"Yeah, yeah. I can take on the new comers." Damien responded smiling at Treyze while glancing over at Katelynn to monitor how she was reacting to all this.

Rose grinned in triumph. She had done it again1 At the thought, she laughed and playfully threw another grape, just for the heck of it. It was pretty fun. "Hey, Kris, open up." she chirped, wanting to see if she could throw one in his mouth. Then, Ray entered, and she grinned with a friendly wave. "Hi Ray!" she chirped happily, still up on the island. It was pretty comfortable up there.

The energetic girl ran a hand through her hair and hummed , eating a few grapes herself. Hey, they were tempting.


(Horrible writers block >.<)

Leading her over to the car, he opened the door for her to slip inside the plush leather interior which was as black as its fearsome outer facade. He then closed her door and slipped around to his side, opening the door he first slid the guitar behind the bench seat and then slipped inside closing the door.

Katelyn watched as Damien gripped the wheel, he seemed to be taking deep breaths as if to calm himself He wet his lips by quickly licking them as she resisted the urge to comfort him, feeling like whatever was going through his mind was something he need to work out himself. His knuckles tightened on the hard rubber exterior of the racing wheel. His knuckles increased the pressure until his knuckles were snow white before he drew in a deep breath and spoke calmly to her. “Where I am going to take you first..." His foot bounced. "There' a lot of...activity, that's, uhm, well it’s illegal." He wiped his mouth as he uttered the last bit nervously."This isn't a choice..." She watched his eyes became more vacant yet more aware. He then looked at Katelynn herself. "It's what I have to do, not what I want to do."

Kate nodded softly. "Okay." She said lightly squeezing his hand that was on the steering wheel before bringing her hand back to her lap. Even though she'd never really seen this side of Damien, this side that scared her a little. Kate completely trusted him not to let anything happen to her, and that he was showing her this for a reason. So she would listen to everything.

He took out his cell, pushed several buttons and hit TALK. "Hey, what's up? Yeah. Yeah. Hey Treyze, what do you have for me tonight? Three?" Damien sighed. "Fine, I'll do three. Alright man, I'll be there in a while." Damien flipped the phone closed and slid it back into his pocket. He glanced at her, as she looked at him hoping to get rid of the sadness in her eyes.

His head turned away, momentarily looking down. He pushed the key into the ignition and turned over. The car rumbled to life, the entire frame of the car convulsing from the sheer power of the pure-blooded muscle car, making her jump slightly and look over to Damien with wide eye. Damien was completely unfaze, making her smile, a real smile at the look of calm and peace on his face. He slid on some dark shades and looked over at her while he relaxed his right arm behind her seat. " You may want to buckle up." He voice suave and calm. As soon as he told her, he was immediately backing up in a hasty manner before he spun the car around while 'palming' the steering wheel rather than actually gripping it making her shut her eyes and give a short squeal in suprise which immediately turned into laughter as the wind blew her hair around. . The car jolted to a controlled stop, having backed all the way back down the driveway--spun around, the road was now before them. With a 9 second car, there was not enough road for Damien who eagerly revved the monstrous engine, causing an even louder reaction.

While in idle, the car sputtered and sound like firecrackers erupting all around them. Kate slowly buckled up having no idea what he would do next but she could feel excitement entering her body; shifting the car into drive was like strapping on a rocket. The car lurched forwards, lifting the front half off the ground momentarily from the powerhouse of the torque working its magic in that moment as he sped forwards. The car came down abruptly filling their veins full of exhilaration and excitement, while leaving a wall of smoky haze behind them as well as two distinct tire tracks in their wake. In a quarter of a mile, one thousand three-hundred twenty feet--four hundred and six meters they had gone in less than 8 seconds. When the car had effectively landed he decelerated only after looking over at Katelynn with a daredevil grin with she returned a small laugh and smile, never having had a thrill like this before, as he sped onwards at a mild 60 miles an hour.

He took her through a city she thought she knew, across highways she could recall, down avenues she remembered from her younger days. They passed her father's building on the highway, the city where she had been immersed in the elite life style she lived to this day. Down streets full of foreclosed houses, rusted trailers and cheap motels. Her father and mother never took her to this part of the city and she had never ventured down here herself, not comfortable with the idea of being in a unfamiliar area.

He eventually drew to the docks, to a warehouse, where ironically enough, there were other cars such as Damien's that were equally as ornate and well cared for as his was. He tapped her hand. "I'll get your door." He said softly to her opening his door. She looked on wide eyed at everything that was going on, as soon as he opened the door an outpouring of rap and hip hop music flooded into the cars spacious interior along with the shouts from a large grouping of people. He walked around to her door and took Katelynn's hand and helped her up out of the car and into what his life was. She squeezed his hand tightly moving close to him

"Okay, so there are a couple of things I have to tell you." He said, reaching past her and into the backseat pulling out a bag of clothes. "You're going to see some pretty rough stuff in there. You stay close to me or Treyze. You don't ask questions but to either of us, you understand? It's for your safety. You go in there asking things to random people, they will think you're a narc--and nobody wants that." He said casually, coaching her on the unwritten rules of his life.

"Okay." She said nodding her head in understanding. She was a little bit overwhelmed but, she knew that Damien wouldn't let anything happen to her. That he wouldn't bring her here to scare her. Katelynn smoothed out her yellow baby doll shirt over her jean shorts, thankful she had changed after practicing but feeling like the clothing she was wearing wasn't right for her setting.

He then took her hand and made his way to the door pounding on the rusted metal surface. Out stepped a taller and well-built black male whose arms could not be exaggerated. He sported a pencil-line goatee and studded ear piercings. The man took one look at Damien and smiled brightly throwing out his hand in which Damien graciously accepted and the two drew close as though to hug or embrace each other but neither lost their grip. Releasing they stepped back, the guy looked Damien up and down carefully.

Katelynn smiled noticing that this much be Treyze, he seemed one of the few people out here that Damien trusted, which out here she'd imagine there weren't alot of people out here that you could trust. She was glad he had someone...a friend.

"Damn man, you look like the walking dead or something." Treyze called Damien out on his condition. "You sure you can fight tonight, I can always get one of the pledges to take a hit. Lord knows they get slapped around like bitches enough one of them might man up." Treyze laughed heartily causing Damien to smile in response.

Fighting. Kate looked on in suprise as she realized this was a underground fighting club. She looked on in at Damien in concern, he was already sick...she didn't want him to get any worse. She was about to speak out when Damien responed to Treyze

"Yeah, yeah. I can take on the new comers." Damien responded smiling at Treyze while glancing over at Katelynn. She squeezed his hand gently kissing him on the lips breifty trying to tell him a dozen things at once. That she was fine, she wasn't too freaked out, just surprised ; that she was sorry for what had happened earlier and that she didn't want him to get hurt doing this.

Katelynn took it a step further as she spoke to the man who appeared to be intimidating but seemed quiet friendly...to people close to him at least "You must be Treyze." She said with a smile as the way his eyes flickered confirmed it. "I'm Kate." She said with a smile. "Its nice to put a face to the name, Damien's been mentioning tonight."

She bit her lip gently looking at Damien as she asked him the next question. "Your not gonna get hurt too bad, right?" She asked softly concern swimming in her eyes.

Damien blinked when he fund her lips kissing his once again. It was brief. Short and sweet. Immediately he understood, she was concerned for his safety. He could confer with her hand squeezing his hand from her apprehension, her anxiety towards what was coming. He had closed his eyes initially out pure instinctive reaction, opening his eyes saw her eyes the liquid pools of grey-blue glimmering back at his own dark eyes. He swallowed, choking momentarily and watching her release and step forwards towards Treyze.

"You must be Treyze." She said with a smile as the way his eyes flickered confirmed it. "I'm Kate." She said with a smile. "Its nice to put a face to the name, Damien's been mentioning tonight."

"Shit. You're the champ around here Damien, no need to go scarin' off the prospects man." Treyze countered, his playful demeanor remaining. He then looked at Katelynn. "Well lordy lordy, looky here. You actually brought ya girl with ya this time. "You must be something special lil' lady, he ain't one to ever bring a girl here." Treyze said smiling at her before wrapping his large arms around her and practically bear hugging her.

"Treyze. Meet Katelynn--she's not afraid to kick you in the crotch should you get out of hand." Damien remarked chuckling.

"Hey, hey. You only beat me because you low-blowed me! It's an unfair disadvantage to all men that is!" Treyze shook his head while Damien simply laughed. “Should I show her a seat?"

"Nah, this one's going in the back with me; she wants to see how I get prepared for the fight." Damien said with a cool-headed voice his eyes staring over at Katelynn as he held her hand.

"Your not gonna get hurt too bad, right?" She asked him. He looked back at her, his hand gingerly and tentatively stroking her cheek before he responded, be it much to her dismay.

"I...can't promise that. These things get out of hand and you never know what could happen. But listen, I'll try and make it quick, okay?" He nodded trying to reassure her while keeping eye contact. His own eyes reconfirming everything he just told her.


"Aight," Treyze said with a stoked smile. “I’ll get you your drink, you be on in a few moments--good luck." Treyze lightly tapped Damien's shoulder as he let them inside. In the warehouse one was deafened by the volume of the music, blinded by the plethora of strobe lights and colored lights. It was hot in here. Suffocatingly so. Damien pulled Katelynn through the cram packed crowd all the way to the other side of the building and into the bathroom. It was less than accommodating. Mirrors left cracked and broken, sinks torn from the walls and shattered. Still, Damien sat his bag down and immediately began to change. He took off the black cotton shirt revealing all the scars he had. Stripes were imprinted between his shoulder blades from where a belt had gradually worn away the skin and had left it open and raw.He put on a dirty, oil-stained white shirt and kept his jeans on, because well, they were old to begin with.

"You're going to see some bad things...hope you're ready." He said looking at her through a mirror. His face looked forlorn before he turned around. He stepped towards her slowly. "When I leave this bathroom, I can't be me--I hope you understand that. Treyze will take care of you. I can't be the guy you give your feelings to until that last fight is over with. I won't respond to my name anymore. That's a different guy." He told her truthfully before he removed a very suspicious belt, yet it looked like any other. Still, he didn't regularly wear a belt. "Don't mention the fact I don't wear a belt." He told her as he turned back around fitting himself with the long strip of leather. "I'll tell you why after."

A moment or two later, Treyze came into the bathroom carrying a fifth of Jack Daniels. He placed it one of the remaining sinks before he walked back out. The bottle was for Damien of course, but Katelynn wouldn't probably guess why. It was for the pain. Because even now he was twisting, writhing on the inside from the pain in his side. He twisted the cap off throwing it away. He made it very clear, there would be no moderation. He lifted the bottle, his eyes closed and his lips moved--perhaps a pregame prayer for good luck. He then drank from the bottle, little sips at a time while his head bowed in concentration of the physical exertion about to come into reality.

"I...can't promise that. These things get out of hand and you never know what could happen. But listen, I'll try and make it quick, okay?" He nodded trying to reassure her while keeping eye contact. His own eyes reconfirming everything he just told her. Kate nodded squeezing his hand, stuck not happy about the fact that he might get hurt.


"Aight," Treyze said with a stoked smile. “I’ll get you your drink, you be on in a few moments--good luck." Treyze lightly tapped Damien's shoulder as he let them inside. In the warehouse one was deafened by the volume of the music, blinded by the plethora of strobe lights and colored lights. It was hot in here. Suffocatingly so. She looked around wide eye never having been to a place like this a her senses were overloaded. Kate could feel eyes on her, as if they could tell she didn't belong, that she wasn't a regular. Damien pulled Katelynn through the cram packed crowd all the way to the other side of the building and into the bathroom. Mirrors left cracked and broken, sinks torn from the walls and shattered. If Kate normally would have ever walked into a bathroom like this she would have turned back around because her parents, her lifestyle had engrained into her instincts to shy away from places like this. Damien sat his bag down and immediately began to change. He took off the black cotton shirt revealing all the scars he had shown her the night before, which still made her upset. Stripes were imprinted between his shoulder blades making her wonder what his father had done to him. He put on a dirty, oil-stained white shirt and kept his jeans on, because well, they were old to begin with.

"You're going to see some bad things...hope you're ready." He said looking at her through a mirror. He stepped towards her slowly. "When I leave this bathroom, I can't be me--I hope you understand that. Treyze will take care of you. I can't be the guy you give your feelings to until that last fight is over with. I won't respond to my name anymore. That's a different guy." He said to her truthfully before he removed a belt, which was strange because she noticed he didn't regularly wear a belt. "Don't mention the fact I don't wear a belt." He told her as he turned back around fitting himself with the long strip of leather. "I'll tell you why after."

She nodded having no idea what to say about all that was going on.

Treyze came into the bathroom carrying a fifth of Jack Daniels. He placed it one of the remaining sinks before he walked back out. He twisted the cap off throwing it away. He lifted the bottle, his eyes closed and his lips moved--perhaps a pregame prayer for good luck. He then drank from the bottle, little sips at a time while his head bowed in concentration.

"Damien...shouldn't you take it easy a little. I mean so you can focus?" She said gently looking at him. " I mean you can't expect me to sit there and just watch you get your face beat in because you took a huge chug of Daniels and are buzzed." She said worried walking up placing a hand on his cheek. "I really don't want to watch you get hurt especially when I know there's something I know I could do to maybe prevent it."

She looked away briefly before grabbing the bottle. "Instead of trying to numb your mind or whatever it is your drinking this for." She said putting the bottle down as she put a hand on his cheek looking at him, "Think about why you have to get out of there with as little damage as possible, or how upset I will be if something happens to you, because you wanted to show me this thing you do. Alright? I need you to win, or whatever it is you need to do...I need you to do it for me. Because I don't think I can handle it if something goes wrong."

"Damien...shouldn't you take it easy a little. I mean so you can focus?" She had called out to him, by now he would have been pacing back and forth. Turning on a dime on his heels before he ran into the walls. His eyes were so focused, so much clarity despite the haze of the alcohol wanting to affect him. It was as though he were trying to find a balance between pain resistance and a clear mind. With each swig of booze, he felt his nerves deaden to sensation but fighting this with his erratic mind he wasn't entirely senseless as any jock would more than likely have been. However his mind was so immersed in his intent that he hardly heard her at first.

" I mean you can't expect me to sit there and just watch you get your face beat in because you took a huge chug of Daniels and are buzzed." He heard her voice come in, not as a dulled tone this time, but more words were distinguishable instead. It started to unravel him, and it showed. His facial expressions changed, his eyes looked around as if searching for answers or he were listening intently. "I really don't want to watch you get hurt especially when I know there's something I know I could do to maybe prevent it."

Get hurt. Maybe prevent it. Parts of what she was saying were getting through, still the ritual he had gone through to psyche himself up for the pain was as addictive and potent as any drug. His eyes revealed the truth that he had done this for far too long. His hand went to the bottle. A bottle that was not there for Katelynn had taken it. The look of puzzlement on his face was bewildering. It was as though a critical component of his life had just vanished inexplicably. He then felt her hand gently touch his cheek, causing him to release a deep breath. He was entirely excited, maybe afraid of what she would think of him after what she would see him as."Instead of trying to numb your mind or whatever it is your drinking this for, think about why you have to get out of there with as little damage as possible, or how upset I will be if something happens to you, because you wanted to show me this thing you do. Alright? I need you to win, or whatever it is you need to do...I need you to do it for me. Because I don't think I can handle it if something goes wrong." She told him, making his heart beat a little harder in his chest. He then looked up into her eyes, searching for an apology to give her. An apology that this was his life, that this was what he had to do on a daily basis to make ends meet.

Damien nodded slowly. "Okay..." He responded to her grabbing the bottle of whiskey, he looked at it for a few moments. The demons of his addiction cluttering in and around him in his head, wetting their lips with anticipation. He then walked over to the trash been and crammed it down. He sighed and looked over at Katelynn when he heard a noise. It was Treyze entering the bathroom.

"Hey man, you're up." The familiar man said with a smile of confidence. Damien nodded and stepped across the room to Katelynn. "You can go with him. I'll be out shortly." Damien told Katelynn his voice soft, but firm. He leaned in and kissed her cheek affectionately before whispering into her ear. " Thank you..." Damien then nodded to Treyze who then took Katelynn's hand and led her from the bathroom and out into the crowd. He led her up some stairs and out on a catwalk that overlooked the arena, which, more or less was a circle with the crowd was practically the only barricade.

"Hey, are you and Damien an item or something?" Treyze would ask her, leaning forwards his arms over hanging the metal bars that lined the walkway. "Just asking, cause he ain't never showed up here with a gal on his arm before." Treyze was facing towards the arena, his eyes watched as the challenger Rodriguez entered the circle and then Damien entered as well. The rules were simple enough. Knock out or incapacitate the opponent. Crowd could and often would get involved either by holding a fighter for some added blows or breaking something over one of their heads. Once Damien had entered the ring, the crowd was in an uproar.

(...)

"Hey man, you're up." Damien nodded and stepped across the room to Katelynn. "You can go with him. I'll be out shortly." Damien told Katelynn his voice soft, but firm. He leaned in and kissed her cheek affectionately before whispering into her ear. " Thank you..." Damien then nodded to Treyze who then took Katelynn's hand and led her from the bathroom and out into the crowd. She looked back at Damien as the bathroom door closed behind her hoping praying that everything would go well. He led her up some stairs and out on a catwalk that overlooked the arena, which, more or less was a circle with the crowd was practically the only barricade. She looked the crowd hoping this would go well, it reminded her of the fights see would see in school, but she knew this would be more dangerous

"Hey, are you and Damien an item or something?" Treyze asked her, leaning forwards his arms over hanging the metal bars that lined the walkway. "Just asking, cause he ain't never showed up here with a gal on his arm before." Treyze was facing towards the arena, his eyes watched as the challenger Rodriguez entered the circle and then Damien entered as well.

Kate sate down like he did as she thought about her answer. "I guess..." She said with a sad smile. "We haven't really defined it as anything. Let's just say we are being us for now ." Once Damien had entered the ring, the crowd was in an uproar making Kate look down again. " Who knows what Damien want from this." She said watching as Damien got pepped up for his fight.

"Why does he do this? I mean what is in it for them other than bruises, a broken nose and maybe a pumped up ego?" She asked not taking her eyes off what was going on down there. "I mean if he enjoys fighting, any of them, why not take up boxing or some martial arts?"

(Where es Ray o.o)

"I guess..." Katelynn responded halfheartedly to Treyze. "We haven't really defined it as anything. Let's just say we are being us for now ." Treyze was seemingly entranced by the fight. Truth was, he was very adamant about listening to what this girl had to say. He simply nodded to her words, and cringed when Damien was struck. The fight was brutal; unadulterated and just plain violent. At one point the crowd had a hold of Rodriguez who struggled to free himself from the pawing hands of the masses. Damien took advantage, snapping a 2x4 across the man's face sending him to the floor before punting his his head like a kicker in football. A vicious kick struck the man's face sending him sprawling elsewhere.

"Why does he do this? I mean what is in it for them other than bruises, a broken nose and maybe a pumped up ego? I mean if he enjoys fighting, any of them, why not take up boxing or some martial arts?"

Tyreze simply laughed at her question before he shook his head. "It's a lot more simple than that I'm afraid. See the problem is he went to jail--regardless of what it was for--doesn't matter. Employers see that on a resume, it's like trying to ignore the elephant in the room. They say you can't be discriminatory, but who decides how or if you are discrimination for low paying jobs? Truth is, he does it for the little girl that owns his heart and soul. Without her, he probably would be down there just to inflate an ego. But right now, if I know Damien, he's either thinking about you or her. He's got no one else. I hope ya'll do make it, truly. He needs someone to keep his ass in line and focused. He doesn't even drink to get drunk anymore. He drinks because its his pain killer. He can't afford medication or procedures--ain't a god damn day that I don't ask how he's able to stand up much less fight. Most people be in bed dying. Its like hes not even human, like he's put that behind his need to take care of Annabell." Tyreze answered, clapping as the second opponent slumped to the ground after a powerful right hook to the jaw.

Then came the third fighter. One that made Tyreze very uneasy. " No, no, no. Veteran fighters do not fight each other!" He yelled out, almost panicked. "Shits gonna hit the fan now. There's a reason that veteran fighters only fight newbies. Getting two fighters who have been in the ring a long time is like putting two pitbulls who've been abused together. They'll fight until one kills the other." Tyreze explained to Katelynn. "What are all doing?! There are rules for a reason!" He yelled out. Damien turned his head away to raise his hand to reassure his friend. Damien was sweating profusely, and bleeding from his forehead openly from a smashed bottle to the head. His opponent, Tyrone was a long time rival. He was nearly six inches taller and nearly a hundred pounds more than Damien. He was an African American with an ill repute and had many tattoos from his time in prison.

Damien was sitting on the floor, his arm loosely draped over one bent knee while his other leg was extended . He slowly reached up and grabbed the barricade behind him, shakily pulling himself to his feet. He began coughing, in covering his mouth blood was kept from splattering the guests but it was visible to everyone watching. Turning around, a very pale and sweat covered Damien stared at Tyrone who stepped into the arena. He was dwarfed in comparison, but that didn't keep Damien's bad boy personality from kicking in and making him smile deviously as he heard Tyreze yelling.

"It's okay Tyreze," He wheezed his breath short and shallow. "This one knows the rules, yet he wanted to play with the big dog anyways." Damien turned his head spitting blood to the floor as it crept up from the back of his throat. Everyone could see Damien was fading, and fading fast. His skin was losing more and more pigment, he was practically inhaling the blood he was coughing up. Yet, there was a mad 6'6 328-pound man between him and walking out with his money. The man removed his black shirt revealing a very chiseled and defined physique.

"Yo, Damien, hows about you and I fight? Pick on someone your own size for once." The man called out in a deep voice stepping forwards. Damien struggled to breathe, let alone stand up straight for the pain in his side was killing him. Jolts of intense pain thrived in his nerves, leaving them tingling. His eye lids barely able to stay open, he kept himself bent over, one arm tucked under his stomach to apply pressure to his throbbing kidney. The large man walked over to Damien, grabbed him by the scalp and arched his other arm back and then slung it forwards. Damien could feel the swelling occurring on impact with his cheek as it bruised the bone and busted blood vessels under the skin. Damien spun before landing on the floor, sluggishly crawling, desperately trying to pick himself up.

Tyrone wasn't satisfied though. He lifted one of his large meaty legs and then stomped on Damien's spine. His face turned red as pain shot through his entire body. He trembled from the measure of pain that was now causing slight paralysis and making his head throb from the massive blood pressure spike. He cried out and ducked his head into the ground. Veins were exposed, pressing outwards along the underside of his skin. He could feel his temperature raising, steadily increasing. Damien just lay there, unable to really do much due impart largely because of the severe pain.

How about I fuck that pretty thing you came and brought in here?" Tyrone asked him holding him up, it wasn't as easy as it may have looked. Damien's legs felt like jelly, they wanted to fold at every attempt to put pressure on them. Damien struggled to breathe, his eyes wanting to close, to roll into the back of their sockets. Finally, he mustered enough air to speak. "Not...while I draw breath." He managed to say to his adversary who just smiled.

Well, that's what we're here to fix, now ain't it?" Tyrone whispered to Damien. He the furled a massive fist and quickly embedded it in Damien's side. It was the side Damien had surgery on to remove one kidney. Seeing that it was not a source of pain, Tyrone re-gathered his fist and then punched Damien's remaining kidney. It was enough to make a regular man pass out as pain completely numbed his body. It made his heart throb wildly in his chest, even caught the air in his throat. The next moment would be terrifying as blood, not by the speck or trickle--by the torrent came flooding from between Damien's lips. He gagged and choked as Tyrone released him feeling the blood spill over his arm.

Damien landed as though there were no life in him left. He cluttered in a heap on the cold concrete floor. His eyes stared out from their place alongside the floor. He watched as Tyrone stood watching him at first, then turn away. Damien's body convulsed, the images of his childhood raced through his brain. Images of people that hurt him. Images of people that had come out of the dark to grab his hands and help him. Images of people that he truly cared about. The images winded down, slowing with the pulse of his heart. His pupils having gone from big to now small, their sight not in the present. His brain now flipped through the final two pictures. One of his sister Dakota and one of Katelynn. He heard her voice calling out to him.

"I need you to do it for me. Because I don't think I can handle it if something goes wrong."

"Clean yourself up," Tyrone called out to Damien. “You’re sweating all over my floor." He sneered, tossing down a napkin.

His eyes blinked, feeling leering gazes upon him as the crowd had stood up to witness his death. His body trembled at his brains command. Stand up. He told himself. Damien then began an arduous, painstaking task of getting to his feet. The nerves were electrifying his every motion, causing him to tremble greatly. Once he had actually stood upright, having nearly fallen over several times, he called out to Tyrone.

"It's not your floor...it’s mine." Damien panted, the crowd astonished at Damien's stubbornness or stupidity. Tyrone turned around and Damien threw himself at Tyrone. Tyrone easily shrugged it off and threw Damien to the floor. Damien landed on his hands and knees harshly, spitting blood as he did. Tyrone stood menacingly over Damien, before he lifted on large leg towards Damien

In attempt to effectively, and forcefully squash Damien Tyrone kicked his leg out not expecting what Damien did next. In the moment that Tyrone kicked forwards, Damien's shoulder rolled back while his body slipped under and behind Tyrone's knee. This shift in gravity caused Tyrone to become unbalanced, to topple backwards. But Damien was not finished yet. Still having his arm looped around Tyrone's leg just above his ankle, he flexed his arms to the max while pressing downwards with his other hand just shy of his knee cap. Damien shouted as he exerted his body, blood further escaping his lips as his resilience was being challenged. The leverage Damien had gotten was enough to snap both Tyrone's tibia and fibula and also tear the ligaments from his ankle. The bones splintered creating compound fractures which were exposed. Tyrone screamed in agony clutching his leg while the menacing appearing Damien kicked him away from the barricade.

"Say you give..."Damien gave the man the choice, but it was more of a command than a choice. He swallowed, his face drained of color. His face was stoic however, his eyes were deadly serious.

"I give! I give!" He shouted up at Damien, flailing his arms helplessly.

Damien stepped back and picked up the napkin and then threw it down on Tyrone. "Clean yourself up, you're bleeding all over my floor." With that, Damien limped off much to the applauding fans, spitting blood and holding his side.

[[I don't normally post OOC in the IC (even though it seems people are doing it now :v) but MusicLover, I think Synicate is more wondering where Kris is :v]]

[[ Ray acted like he was leaving, Rosie was going to throw a grape into Kris' mouth and Kris apologized to Kazu.}}

Tyreze simply laughed at her question before he shook his head. "It's a lot more simple than that I'm afraid. See the problem is he went to jail--regardless of what it was for--doesn't matter. Employers see that on a resume, it's like trying to ignore the elephant in the room. They say you can't be discriminatory, but who decides how or if you are discrimination for low paying jobs? Truth is, he does it for the little girl that owns his heart and soul. Without her, he probably would be down there just to inflate an ego. But right now, if I know Damien, he's either thinking about you or her. He's got no one else. I hope ya'll do make it, truly. He needs someone to keep his ass in line and focused. He doesn't even drink to get drunk anymore. He drinks because its his pain killer. He can't afford medication or procedures--ain't a god damn day that I don't ask how he's able to stand up much less fight. Most people be in bed dying. Its like hes not even human, like he's put that behind his need to take care of Annabell." Tyreze answered, clapping as the second opponent slumped to the ground after a powerful right hook to the jaw.

Katelynn watch with attentive eyes as Damien walked away from his second fight. She sent a prayer in thanks before praying that his last fight would be just as fine.

Then came the third fighter he was bigger and definitely appeared to be tougher than his previous opponents, but Katey remembered that Tyreze set up these matches making her let out a breath. That was until Tyreze spoke up. " No, no, no. Veteran fighters do not fight each other!" He yelled out, almost panicked. "Shits gonna hit the fan now. There's a reason that veteran fighters only fight newbies. Getting two fighters who have been in the ring a long time is like putting two pitbulls who've been abused together. They'll fight until one kills the other." Tyreze explained to Katelynn.

"What do you mean?! Why is he in there?! Get him out." She yelled at Tyreze looking down at the fight with wild worried eyes

"What are all doing?! There are rules for a reason!" He yelled out. Damien turned his head away to raise his hand to reassure his friend. Damien was sweating profusely, and bleeding from his forehead openly from a smashed bottle to the head. "No, no, no!" She said shaking her head at him. "Don't listen to him, he's being prideful. If this isn't gonna end well don't let it start." She pleaded, tears filling her eyes she took her attention back down to the fight.

Turning around, a very pale and sweat covered Damien stared at Tyrone who stepped into the arena. He was dwarfed in comparison, but that didn't keep Damien's bad boy personality from kicking in and making him smile deviously as he heard Tyreze yelling.

Kate whispered to herself, praying by some chance Damien would listen. "Please, call it off. Forfeit...Do something anything but this."

"It's okay Tyreze," He wheezed his breath short and shallow. "This one knows the rules, yet he wanted to play with the big dog anyways." Damien turned his head spitting blood to the floor as it crept up from the back of his throat. Everyone could see Damien was fading, and fading fast. His skin was losing more and more pigment, he was practically inhaling the blood he was coughing up.

"Yo, Damien, hows about you and I fight? Pick on someone your own size for once." The man called out in a deep voice stepping forwards. Damien struggled to stand up straight His eye lids barely able to stay open, he kept himself bent over, one arm tucked under his stomach to apply pressure to his throbbing kidney. The large man walked over to Damien, grabbed him by the scalp and arched his other arm back and then slung it forwards. Damien spun before landing on the floor, sluggishly crawling, desperately trying to pick himself up.

Katelynn looked at Tyreze. "There's got to be something you can do to stop this. Can't you like throw in the towel, call a match or something?" She said looking at Damien briefly. "As much as Damien wants to be superman, he can't be. He is sick, this fight isn't going to end well you said that yourself." She said trying to convince him. "If you are his friend like you say you are, stop this please!" She pleaded on death ears as she turned back to the fight

He lifted one of his large meaty legs and then stomped on Damien's spine. His face turned red as he trembled from the measure of pain that was now causing slight paralysis and making his head throb from the massive blood pressure spike. He cried out and ducked his head into the ground. Veins were exposed, pressing outwards along the underside of his skin.

"Damien!" Kate yelled unable to control the scream in horror, tears running down her face. She watched hoping he would move...so something anything. "Damien, please!"

Tyrone whispered something to Damien. He the furled a massive fist and quickly embedded it in Damien's side. Tyrone regathered his fist and then punched Damien's remaining kidney. The next moment would be terrifying as blood, not by the speck or trickle--by the torrent came flooding from between Damien's lips. He gagged and choked as Tyrone released him feeling the blood spill over his arm.

Damien landed as though there were no life in him left. He cluttered in a heap on the cold concrete floor. His eyes stared out from their place alongside the floor. He watched as Tyrone stood watching him at first, then turn away. Damien's body convulsed, making Katelynn stand up to leave. "I can't just sit down and watch this happen anymore" She said about to leave the catwalk, when Tyreze grabbed her arm to hold her in place, telling her to just wait, that it wasn't safe for her to go.

"Clean yourself up," Tyrone called out to Damien. " You're sweating all over my floor." He sneered, tossing down a napkin.

Once he had actually stood upright, having nearly fallen over several times, he called out to Tyrone. "It's not your floor...its mine." Damien panted. Tyrone turned around and Damien threw himself at Tyrone. Tyrone easily shrugged it off and threw Damien to the floor. Damien landed on his hands and knees harshly, spitting blood as he did. Tyrone stood menacingly over Damien, before he lifted on large leg towards Damien.

"Damien focus, please!" She screeched her voice going horse

In attempt to effectively, and forcefully squash Damien Tyrone kicked his leg out not expecting what Damien did next. In the moment that Tyrone kicked forwards, Damien's shoulder rolled back while his body slipped under and behind Tyrone's knee. This shift in gravity caused Tyrone to become unbalanced, to topple backwards. But Damien was not finished yet. Still having his arm looped around Tyrone's leg just above his ankle, he flexed his arms to the mack while pressing downwards with his other hand just shy of his knee cap. Damien shouted as he exerted his body, the leverage Damien got was enough to snap both Tyrone's tibia and fibula and also tear the ligaments from his ankle. The bones splintered creating compound fractures which were exposed. Tyrone screamed in agony clutching his leg while the menacing appearing Damien kicked him away from the barricade.

"Say you give..."Damien gave the man the choice, but it was more of a command than a choice. He swallowed, his face drained of color. His face was stoic however, his eyes were deadly serious.

"I give! I give!" He shout up at Damien, flailing his arms helplessly.

As soon as the words left Tyrone's mouth and she saw Damien getting ready to leave Kate bolted down the catwalk not caring if Tyreze was following her down the stairs.

She took two at a time until she was back in the crowd, she could tell where Damien was based of the crowd cheers. She pushed her way through the crowd coming to see his bruised at battered body halfway through the crowd. Kate cried launching herself at him not caring what he or anyone else thought.

Katelynn sniffled into her shoulder wrapping her arms around him. "Don't scare me like that again, okay..." She croaked softly. "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 shook her head trying to get rid of the memories that would haunt her mind for a long time. "Can we go please?" Kate said softly her voice going. "Please? I don't want to watch you fight anymore....I don't want you to fight any more."

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.