Kimberly Price (conflicted) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2010-09-01 20:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | kim, starbuck |
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Who: Kim, Starbuck, Kamea, Ed and Luke
When: Wednesday evening
Where: Kim and Starbuck's apartment
What: All hell finally breaks loose.
Opening the sliding door from the balcony, Kim stepped back inside as she hung up her phone. Closing the door behind her, she flopped onto the couch beside Starbuck and faced him, pulling her legs up underneath her. “Lauren says hi. And she really wants us to visit sometime soon. You think you’d be up for a weekend trip down to New York?” she asked, propping her elbow on the headrest and her head in her palm. It had been way too long since she had seen her best friend. She missed her so much and now Kim was finally starting to summon up the courage to tell Lauren the truth about what she was. Maybe if they took a trip to see her, Kim would finally be able to share this side of her life with her.
---
Starbuck was simply watching Kamea work on a wooden puzzle with sea creatures as Kim talked to her friend outside. It was time for Kim to tell Lauren the truth, and he knew Kim felt the same, but actually doing it was going to take a bit of work. Lauren wouldn’t believe Kim without evidence, and she might be traumatized if Kim shifted before her very eyes.
When Kim returned, Starbuck smiled. “A weekend in New York sounds great. We can go whenever you want.” Their schedules were busy right now, but not without breaks. Starbuck and Kim could easily pack up for a weekend trip, and he didn’t see any reason why Kamea couldn’t come with them.
---
“Really?” she asked with an excited look on her face. They both had a lot of work and studying to do, but their weekends were relatively free. “You think maybe we can go in a few weeks? She says we’re welcome to stay with her in her apartment. And she really wants to meet you and Kamea.”
Even as she was talking and excited at the prospect of getting to see Lauren again, Kim became nervous when she thought of having to tell Lauren that she was a werewolf. She knew she’d have to show her for her to believe her and that was a scary thought. Kim had never shifted in front of someone who wasn’t a lycan before and while she was in control of herself while in her wolf form, she still didn’t know how she’d react. “I guess I’d have to tell her everything when I see her.. I really don’t want to lie to her anymore.”
---
“She’s willing to let two adults and a toddler stay in her apartment? Brave woman,” Starbuck said with a chuckle. He had no idea how big Lauren’s place was, but if it was small, it was very generous of her to offer the space to Starbuck, Kim and Kamea. “I’m excited to meet her. You talk about her so much. She sounds like a cool chick.” He grinned broadly. It was a shame Lauren didn’t live closer. Once she knew the truth, it would be nice to have her nearby. Kim had plenty of friends at TJS, and a best friend in Frankie, but he knew she missed the familiarity of her old life.
“She might freak out at first... but then she’ll probably think it’s cool. Most humans do. If it’s easier, you could tell her about me first and see how she reacts. Though the only way I could prove anything to her would be for someone to get injured...” Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.
Distracted from their chat for a moment, Starbuck turned his attention to Kamea as she finished her puzzle. She jumped up and cheered for herself, clapping her hands. “Good job! Look at all those happy sea creatures!” Kamea didn’t take much time to admire her work, she immediately plopped back down on her ass and overturned the puzzle to start over again.
---
Kim laughed at Starbuck’s comment. “Yeah, she is pretty brave.” The place that Lauren lived in was small even though there were two rooms, one of which wasn’t occupied at the moment since her new roommate was gone for the summer. “Lauren’s very cool. She kinda has a crazy side too, but she’s able to keep that in control mostly.” Kim would’ve loved to have Lauren live closer. Everything that was a part of her old life had been washed away. Kim wanted nothing to do with it. But Lauren was the only thing she held onto tightly. Great friends were hard to come by and Lauren was certainly one of those.
Kim sighed slightly as she stared off into space, thinking about how she should break the news. “I guess I could tell her about you first. You could heal something on me like... I don’t know.” The thought of purposely injuring herself so they could show Lauren his powers was kind of weird. “Either way, the only way she’ll believe me is if I shift in front of her.” And that was what made Kim nervous the most. She was in control of herself while in wolf form, but she still had that lingering fear that something bad would happen while in the presence of a non-lycan.
When Kamea jumped up, Kim looked over at her with a smile and a laugh once she promptly destroyed the puzzle. “That’s such a pretty puzzle, sweetie!” She was seriously the cutest little girl she’d ever seen.
---
“I’m not letting you injure yourself to demonstrate my healing abilities,” Starbuck stated firmly. “I’m a klutz. I’m bound to do something stupid while we’re there and heal much faster than humanly possible. Though that’s still probably not enough to convince her, and I don’t think she’d be willing to take a trip to the local aquarium so I can chat with the fish. You’re going to have to shift in front of her to make her believe.” Starbuck knew that scared Kim, but he had full confidence in Kim’s control over her wolf side. He knew she’d never harm him or anyone else while shifted.
While Kamea worked on the puzzle, Starbuck hopped up to get a glass of juice. He called out to Kim, asking if she wanted anything, when there was a determined knock at the door. Starbuck glanced up, wondering who it could be. They weren’t expecting anyone, but he supposed it was possible Frankie had some new crisis that required Kim’s assistance, that’s why he said, “Can you get it?” as he finished getting his drink.
---
“I won’t hurt myself, I promise,” she replied. Kim knew there was no way that Starbuck would let her even though the thought had crossed her mind. “I just wish there was another way to show her.” There was always going to be that voice in the back of her head, nagging her and making her worry about shifting in front of Lauren. “Just.. promise me you’ll be right there next to her when I do it. I don’t want her completely freaking out and...” Kim just kind of trailed off, a worried look etched upon her face. Who was she kidding? Of course there was a huge chance that Lauren would flip her shit and run away. And Kim wouldn’t blame her for that.
When Starbuck was in the kitchen, Kim asked for a glass of water and continued to watch Kamea work on her puzzle. At the knock on the door, Kim hopped up and crossed the room to answer it. Like Starbuck, she expected Frankie to be on the other side of the door, or even Vinnie. But she definitely wasn’t expecting it to be Ed. Kim’s body tensed up as she stayed in the doorway, blocking Ed from coming inside. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Not happy to see me?” Ed asked with a sarcastic edge. “Seems the security at your stupid little school for freaks isn’t too tight. All I had to do was go in and tell them I was your brother and they gave me this address.”
Kim stayed stone-faced as she spoke. “What do you want?” She didn’t know what his intentions were, but she didn’t have a good feeling about this visit.
At her question, Ed immediately grabbed her arm and tried to pull her out the door. “You’re coming with me.”
“No!” she protested loudly, trying to pull herself out of his reach. Goddammit, why the hell did he have to come here? He was going to ruin everything.
---
“Of course I’ll be there. And if Lauren freaks the fuck out, I’ll chase after her.” While Starbuck would be torn, wanting to stay by Kim’s side in such a situation, he’d go after her friend because he knew that’s what Kim would want.
Starbuck dropped the cup, leaving it to spill on the tile floor as he ran from the kitchen upon hearing Ed’s voice and Kim’s protests. Kamea heard too. She ran over to see what was wrong, calling out, “Mommy!”
Starbuck was caught in a bad situation. He wanted to help Kim, but his first instinct was to protect Kamea. Starbuck honestly didn’t know if Ed would do something to hurt the little girl. So Starbuck ran over and picked up his daughter, yelling at Ed as he did so. “Get the fuck out of our home, Ed.. before I call the police and have you arrested for battery.”
---
Kim sighed and raked a hand through her hair. “Thank you.” If Lauren ran, Kim definitely wanted Starbuck to go after her. Kim would be upset if that’s how things turned out, but she wanted her friend to be safe.
Upon hearing Kamea’s voice close behind her, Kim kept her eyes trained on Ed, but spoke calmly to the little girl. “Go to your room, baby. Everything’s ok.”
“Mommy?” Ed repeated incredulously. “Are you fucking serious? You’re playing mommy to this brat? What the fuck kind of brainwash did Stardouche do on you?”
Ah, and speaking of Stardouche. Ed looked over at him with a snarl on his face. “You think I give a flying fuck about the police? You can’t have me arrested for something I didn’t do.”
Kim finally pulled out of his grasp and gave him a hard shove before calling back to Starbuck. “Get her in her room. I’m fine.” With that, she followed Ed out the door. She didn’t want any fighting going around while Kamea was present.
---
Starbuck really hated to leave Kim’s side right now, but when he heard Ed call Kamea a ‘brat’ and start talking more trash, Starbuck knew he couldn’t have Kamea there to see it. He rushed her back to her bedroom and set her down on the floor. “It’s okay, sweetie, we’re all okay. Just play in your room.” Shutting Kamea inside, Starbuck ran back out to the confrontation in the doorway.
Kamea wasn’t the only one upset by the disturbance, the dogs had come out from their napping places in Kim and Starbuck’s bedroom and started barking and growling at Ed. Phone in hand, Starbuck looked to Kim. He wanted to call the police badly. “Look up the fucking definition of battery, Ed. Because grabbing Kim like that against her will is battery. Keep your damn hands to yourself and get lost. You have no right to come into our home and treat Kim or my daughter with disrespect.” It was so hard to resist the urge to jump on Ed right now. Starbuck wanted to beat the shit out of him and it showed in the glare he was giving the other man right now. The dogs sensed the anger coming from their owner and snarled even more.
---
Ed’s hands curled up into fists as he heard barking from within the apartment now. Looking inside, he saw two dogs suddenly walk out of a room and begin to growl from their spots behind Kim and Starbuck. “You really are playing goddamn house,” he said with a short, unamused laugh. “First, the freaking rugrat and now dogs? What the fuck is going on with you, Kimmy?”
“I’m happy here,” she retorted. “This is the life I want, Ed. I don’t know why you can’t get that through your thick skull.” Kim had told him countless times how happy she was with Starbuck. Why couldn’t he understand that? Upon hearing Starbuck speak, she looked at him and silently pleaded with him. She could see how furious he was with Ed, but she didn’t want him getting into a fight with her brother.
Meanwhile, Ed didn’t give a shit about starting a fight. He was game. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do when it comes to my sister,” he spat, moving toward him. Kim stood in his way and pushed him out further onto the sidewalk, but he didn’t stop yelling back at Starbuck. “I can do whatever the hell I want.”
Like any good sidekick, Luke wasn’t very far behind once he saw Ed get shoved back out the door. Coming to a stop behind his best friend, he looked over at Kim with a grin on his face. “What’s with all the hostility, KimKim?”
Kim immediately tensed up when Luke popped in the picture. This was getting so much worse with every second that went by. “This doesn’t concern you, Luke.”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, sweetcheeks,” he replied with a wink. Kim barely had time to respond because Luke grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. Ed really wasn’t kidding when he said he was getting her away from here. “LET ME DOWN!” Kim protested as she squirmed, her fists coming down hard on Luke’s back, but he didn’t let go.
---
It infuriated Starbuck to hear Ed talk ill of Kamea and the life that Starbuck and Kim were building together. He wanted to wail on the asshole, and it was taking everything Starbuck had to hold back. He’d worked very hard at getting his anger under control in the past year, but this was putting his temper to the test. The look from Kim was the only think keeping Starbuck from attacking.
But when Luke appeared, not only calling Kim ‘sweetcheeks’ but then grabbing her and throwing her over his shoulder, Starbuck lost it. The dogs did too. They lunged at Luke, biting at his pant legs and jumping to try and bite his arms as well. Starbuck took the opportunity to throw a hard right at Ed’s left cheek, followed by a left uppercut to the gut. Ed had managed to get a foot in the doorway, and there was no way Starbuck was letting him into the apartment, especially not with Kamea so close by. Starbuck didn’t want to think that Ed was capable of hurting a child, but the dude was clearly unstable and lashing out at anything that connected Starbuck and Kim. Kamea fell into that category, and Starbuck would do anything to protect his little girl.
All the yelling, barking and other commotion got the attention of a neighbor, who promptly called police to report a domestic disturbance. The 911 operator heard even more screams on the line as Kamea started to shout for her daddy, crying and banging on her door to be let out.
---
Luke began stumbling around, trying to shake the dogs off his legs all while trying to keep Kim over his shoulder. That was when Kim took the opportunity to slam her elbow into his back. He cried out in pain and let her go, causing her to fall to the floor. Kim moved up on all fours, watching as the dogs kept going for his legs. “HEEL!” she cried out to them. She didn’t want them getting hurt trying to protect her. Artemis and Apollo reluctantly stopped, but kept barking ferociously at Luke who was now moving over to try and help Ed. There was no way Kim was gonna let that happen so she swept her leg out and connected hard with Luke’s shins. “FUCK!” was all he could get out before falling to the floor.
Meanwhile, Ed was reeling from the two lucky punches Starbuck got in. He was bent over in pain, but the anger was still raging inside. “You fucking ASSHOLE!” Straightening up, he kicked his right foot out, bashing down on Starbuck’s left knee.
Kim stood and ran up behind Ed, trying to hold him in a rear choke to keep him from hitting Starbuck again. “You need to fucking stop this, Ed!”
Ed definitely wasn’t expecting Kim to try and fight back like this. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she was being fucking stubborn. “You don’t wanna do this, Kim,” he warned, thrashing as he tried to pull free from her grip around her neck. When the fuck did she get this strong?
Kim was too focused on tightening her grip around her brother’s neck so she didn’t even notice Luke trying to crawl over to where they were.
---
Starbuck didn’t want the dogs getting hurt either, but he appreciated their help in distracting Luke along enough for Kim to get free. He appreciated it even more after Ed kicked him. Starbuck’s knee jerked back. It was a good thing Ed had been caught off guard slightly, because Starbuck was sure that kick could have been harder, and if so, Starbuck might have had a broken leg right now. As it was, he fell down. The only thing keeping Ed from doing more damage was Kim on his back, choking him.
It gave Starbuck the time he needed to get up again and not a moment too soon. Luke was getting up. While not normally one to fight dirty, Starbuck kicked the guy hard in the gut. “Don’t you ever fucking touch her again!” he yelled, continuing to kick Luke until his foot was grabbed. Starbuck’s legs came out from under him. What the hell made Starbuck think he could take on two lycans? His powers had nothing to do with physical strength. Unless he was fighting the guys in the water, he was a dead man. But he had to do it. Ed and Luke had broken into his home and put his family in danger. What choice did Starbuck have?
---
Because she wasn’t tall enough, Kim didn’t have enough leverage to choke Ed out. This wasn’t gonna work and Ed knew it. She kept holding on tight though, but Ed was about to turn the tables on her. In one swift motion, Ed curled forward and grabbed Kim’s shoulders, pulling her over his shoulders and slamming her back on the floor. Kim cried out in pain, her eyes shutting tight as she felt the surge through her spine. She should’ve known he’d fight back if she struck first. Ed stood over her for a second, trying to get his breath back. Behind him, he could hear the scuffle between Luke and Starbuck, but his only concern was Kim. Crouching down, he shook his head as he spoke to her. “I told you not to fucking do this. Just stop fighting it because whether you like it or not, you’re coming with me.” He moved to grab her again, but that’s when her eyes snapped open and she kicked her right leg straight into his face. Ed stumbled back upon hearing the crack of his nose, blood now pouring out of it.
Luke had almost reached the spot where Kim and Ed were when Starbuck started kicking him in the gut. He was curled over on the ground, groaning in pain, taking kick after kick, but he wasn’t about to just lay there and take it. Luke’s hands shot out and grabbed Starbuck’s foot, pulling it out from under him. Once he was on the ground, Luke crawled over and grabbed the front of Starbuck’s shirt. “Who the fuck do you think you’re dealing with, Water Boy? You don’t stand a chance in hell against us. Just fuckin’ give it up.” As Luke spoke, he landed a few punches on Starbuck’s gut. Lets see how he liked a taste of his own medicine.
---
Starbuck was in the middle of getting his ass kicked, trying to push Luke off him to avoid taking more punches to the gut, but all the while keeping an eye on what was happening with Kim. He’d heard her cry out in pain, and it killed him to not be able to help. Even worse was the fear that he’d get knocked out and unable to stop the wild fucking dogs from going after Kamea. She continued to scream and cry in the other room. Starbuck had never heard her so upset, and that caused a much worse pain in his gut than the punches he was taking.
“NO!” he yelled at Luke. Between punches, Starbuck managed to bring his knee up. Luke was a damn fool for not protecting his jewels. Starbuck’s knee knocked them good, giving him the opportunity to finally push Luke off. Starbuck scrambled to his feet. He was in pain, but he’d taken beatings from the waves and bigger men before, and he didn’t get winded easily. With Luke curled over briefly, Starbuck kicked his face. He didn’t care anymore how badly he hurt them. Starbuck wasn’t simply trying to defend his family, he wanted to ensure Luke and Ed never came back.
He rushed over to Kim, who was hovering over Ed, who was bleeding all over the damn carpet now. “Get him out!” Starbuck yelled. He knew Kim was stronger, and she was also a better fighter.
---
The knee to his nuts knocked all the wind out of him and Luke curled over in pain. “You fuckin’ douche..” he wheezed out, holding his groin. He cursed loudly again as Starbuck’s foot came in contact with his face, breaking his nose as well. They were gonna have one hell of a mess to clean up now that Luke was bleeding too.
Kim was standing over Ed, adrenaline still rushing through her entire system as she stared down at him. Her fists were curled tightly and her body was tense, ready to throw another punch or kick if he moved. Ed just looked up at her in disbelief, holding his bloody nose. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked his sister.
The look in her eyes was practically murderous. How dare he come into her and Starbuck’s home and attack them like that? “Get the fuck out of our house,” she growled. “Both of you,” she added, snapping her head over to look at Luke.
Police sirens started to sound in the distance and Luke scrambled to his feet as best he could. “Ed.. we gotta get outta here..”
Ed stood up slowly, his eyes never peeling away from his sister’s gaze. Though he was bloodied, his posture remained just as threatening as Kim’s. “This isn’t over,” he warned with a shake of his head.
Something surged up within Kim and she threw out a right hook, connecting hard with the side of Ed’s face. He reeled for a second and slowly stood up straight though he was wobbling. Kim was beyond livid as Luke grabbed Ed and yanked him out of the apartment.
---
Starbuck was prepared to fight more. His heart was racing, lungs inflating and deflating at a furious pace, and he too was standing at the ready. Apparently, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t as strong as Ed and Luke. He had the heart and determination and a lot of luck. He also had a bad ass girlfriend who was capable of crippling most men. Thank fuck for Heather’s training!
The sirens were a blessing. They sent the dogs running with their tails between their legs. Starbuck shut, bolted and chained the door immediately, throwing his back against it as he slid to the floor. He hurt all over. They’d have to open the door again in a minute when the police arrived, but Starbuck liked the feel of that barrier between the outside world and the ladies he loved.
He looked up at Kim. Both of them were sweaty, clothes and hair a mess. It was odd that they might not have looked all that different right before the full moon during one of their love making marathons. But this time there was blood on them, and bruises were starting to form.
Starbuck took some deep breaths, trying to get his emotions under control. He could still hear Kamea wailing in her bedroom. He looked at the floor before pushing himself off of it. “I should get her,” he said in a surprisingly soft voice. With that, Starbuck hobbled through the apartment, wiping his hands and face with his shirt as he went.
As he opened the door, Kamea came running out, jumping up and down. Her face was nearly purple from all the anxiety pumping through her system. Starbuck groaned as he picked her up. Her little arms wrapped so tightly around his neck, she was at risk of strangling him. “Shhh... it’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay.” It wasn’t, not even close, but he had to lie. “I’m okay, Kim is okay.. the puppies are okay too. We’re all fine.” Kamea kept crying and screaming between gasps for air. She’d developed hiccups from the ordeal.
---
Kim watched as her brother and his best friend stumbled out of the door, her fists still clenched by her side as she tried to regulate her breathing. Her chest was still rising and falling quickly with every breath she took. Her brows furrowed as she looked from Starbuck down to her hands. They were covered in blood. Ed’s blood. And his blood was on her clothes too. When did everything get so out of control?
She stared down at her hands as they shook. Kim was stuck inside of her head and didn’t snap out of it until Starbuck came out with Kamea. Her cries finally got through to Kim and she looked up at the little girl screaming in Starbuck’s arms. She moved toward them slowly, wiping her hands on her shorts as she did. “It’s ok, baby. They’re not coming back.”
Looking up at Starbuck, her brows furrowed as she saw the blood on him. “Are you ok? Did they hurt you?” she asked as she gently put a hand up to his face.
---
Starbuck was still trying to come down, and the emotions were literally leaking out of him. He had tears falling down his cheek. He nodded in response to Kim’s question though. “Yeah, no... I’m fine.” He continued to rub his hand up and down Kamea’s back, trying to soothe her. But the child’s screams would not abate. They actually got worse as there was a banging on the door and a booming announcement from the other side, “Police!”
Kamea really was starting to cut off Starbuck’s supply of oxygen. There was no way he could let go of her, so he carried her over to the door. Unlocking it, he felt nervous when he saw that the officers on the other side had their hands on their weapons. “We’re not armed... they’re gone,” he said quickly.
The officer in front commanded Starbuck to step back, and Starbuck did so without hesitation. He was followed by four police who stepped in and surveyed their surroundings for any danger. When they spotted the dogs, one of the cops told Kim, “Ma’am, please restrain the animals.” The dogs were still growling, upset from the night’s events.
Starbuck spoke up then. “There was a fight... but they ran.” The police were listening, but they didn’t act like it. They were busy snooping around, one crouched down to inspect the blood on the floor. Starbuck didn’t know what he was supposed to do, but Kamea was getting more upset, so he pleaded with one officer, “Can I get her a toy or blanket? She’s scared.” The officer shook his head. “You can tell me where it is, sir, but you need to stay put.” Starbuck did and pointed down the hall.
---
As soon as the cops banged on the door, Kim became worried. Did they grab Ed and Luke while they were on their way out? Would they get the wrong impression about Kim and Starbuck once they saw how roughed up they were?
Her brows furrowed as the police officers filed into the apartment. Upon one of their instructions to restrain the dogs, Kim nodded absently and grabbed their leashes from the coffee table. “Apollo.. Artemis. Calm down,” she told them. They turned and looked at Kim, calming down slightly as she went to put them on leash. They were confused about all these strangers in the house and while Artemis was a little more subdued, Apollo kept growling. “Hey, stop it,” she told him firmly. “Is it alright if I put them out on the balcony? They’re not gonna stop for a while.” One officer nodded and followed Kim through the living room while she put the dogs out on the balcony and came back inside.
Kim was still kind of shaking, but she refused to say anything else. Instead of looking at the officers, she went back to Starbuck’s side, staying close to him as she brought her hand up to rub Kamea’s back. She hated how upset this whole ordeal had made Kamea, Starbuck and the dogs. It shouldn’t have happened and Kim partly blamed herself for it. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered softly.
---
Starbuck leaned over quickly and kissed Kim’s cheek. “Me too,” he replied. It upset Starbuck that he’d lost his temper, but it couldn’t be helped. Ed was a complete psychopath, and something needed to be done.
The officer in charge motioned for Starbuck and Kim to sit down on the couch. He pulled out a notepad a second later. “Can you tell me what happened?” he asked, looking between the two.
Starbuck was still rubbing Kamea’s back, talking over her as she sobbed. She wasn’t quite as loud now, but she was still shaking and crying uncontrollably. That’s when the other officer returned with a blanket and a toy, handing them to Starbuck. “Thanks... um... well... Kim’s brother and a friend of his showed up. They uh... they don’t like me. They grabbed her, and it all sorta went to hell from there.”
The officer scribbled some notes and eyed Kim carefully. He seemed to be checking her injuries from a distance. “And your name, sir?” Starbuck realized he probably should have started there. “It’s Starbuck.” The officer made a slight face and waited for more information. “Just Starbuck. I don’t have a last name,” Starbuck clarified. The officer looked doubtful. “Seriously... I can show you ID if you don’t believe me.” Nodding, the officer said, “We’ll get it shortly. And your name, ma’am?”
---
When the officer asked them to sit, Kim did so, and stayed quiet while trying to calm Kamea down. How the hell had the police gotten wind of this? It had to have been a neighbor because Kim hadn’t seen Starbuck use his phone. She could feel the officer’s eyes on her and it made her uncomfortable. Kim knew that they were well within their rights because everything they had done was in self-defense, but Ed and Luke could get in serious trouble.
Kim was trying to entertain Kamea with the toy one of the officers had brought her, when the one in charge spoke to her. She looked up with worry in her eyes, hesitating slightly before she spoke. “Kimberly Price.” She fell silent again, waiting for more questions, but wishing they wouldn’t come.
---
Starbuck couldn’t recall Kim ever relaying her name as ‘Kimberly’ and it was a little odd sounding. He glanced at her before the cop asked another question. “And the names of the other men involved... you said there were two of them?” Starbuck nodded in confirmation. “Ed Price... Kim’s brother. And...” he looked to Kim. “I don’t know Luke’s last name.”
Kamea was having trouble breathing again from all her crying. Starbuck shifted her in his arms. That’s when the officer who had been examining the blood on the floor came over and stood beside Starbuck. “Would you turn her around so I can see if she’s injured?” Starbuck looked positively offended by the question, but he did as he was asked. The man inspected Kamea as Starbuck declared, “She wasn’t hurt... she’s just scared from all the screaming. I’d never let anything happen to her,” he said defensively.
---
Truthfully, Kim didn’t know why she had relayed her name that way. It just sort of happened. She felt so numb right now, felt like this wasn’t really happened. It was almost like she was looking over this whole ordeal and just watching it happen. Kim snapped out of her distracted state and looked from Starbuck to the officer. “Luke Metcalfe.”
Starbuck wasn’t the only one that was offended when the officer asked to examine Kamea. Kim looked between the officer that was inspecting Kamea and the one that had been asking them questions. “She was in her room when this happened. And they wouldn’t have hurt her anyway. It was me they came for.” Kim felt numb before, but now she was starting to get annoyed. She wanted these men out of her house, but she knew that wasn’t going to happen easily or quickly.
---
The officer scribbled some more notes, but he looked up from his pen and paper when Starbuck’s tone took a turn. He looked to Kim, astonished by what she said. “I don’t know that they wouldn’t have hurt Kamea,” he snapped. “Ed’s fucking unstable. You heard the way he talked to her. And she’s mine! I think it’s pretty fucking clear he’d do anything to hurt me... even if it means hurting her.” The change in Starbuck’s voice made Kamea start to cry harder again. Starbuck sighed angrily, trying to vent what he was feeling without upsetting his daughter.
Looking back to the officer, Starbuck stated quite bluntly, “I want to file charges... and I want a restraining order.” He knew his request was likely to upset Kim, but Starbuck had to put Kamea first. This shit could not happen again.
---
Kim’s eyes widened when Starbuck snapped like that. “I know he’s unstable, but I also know he wouldn’t hurt a child,” she snapped back. Yes, Ed was an asshole, but he wasn’t about to lay his hands on a defenseless child. And it hurt Kim that Starbuck thought he was capable of something that horrible.
Upon talking about pressing charges and a restraining order, Kim’s jaw dropped open. This was definitely upsetting. She didn’t give a shit about Luke getting in trouble, but she didn’t want Ed to end up in jail. Tears began to sting at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Instead, her brows furrowed in annoyance as she fumed silently, slumping back into the couch.
---
“Well I don’t,” Starbuck replied sharply. He’d never had a less than hostile encounter with Ed, and this was the second time the guy had shown up uninvited with violence on his agenda. Starbuck didn’t want Ed anywhere near his daughter or home.
The officer watched Kim and Starbuck carefully, taking more notes before responding, “Charges would be filed regardless your wishes, sir. This was a violent attack. And we can arrange a protective order, but we’ll need more information and evidence first. I’m going to need pictures of your injuries. Does any of the blood on the floor belong to either of you?” Starbuck shook his head. “No, not really. They had broken noses.. I think.”
Starbuck was avoiding eye contact with Kim now. He didn’t want to get in an argument with her, and he refused to back down on his decision. It didn’t matter that Ed was Kim’s brother. He was dangerous. Starbuck wouldn’t tolerate anymore abuse from the guy.
---
Though Kim couldn’t really blame Starbuck for being worried about Ed, she was still annoyed. She stared at him in disbelief for a second before looking away from him. She wasn’t about to get into an argument with him right now, especially not when the cops were in their home.
Kim felt like opening her mouth and protesting against the charges, but she wouldn’t. She knew it would only make things worse if she did. “I don’t have any injuries,” she responded, her words lacking any emotion. That was a lie. Her back was hurting from being thrown over Ed’s shoulder, but she wasn’t sure if there would be any bruising. And then there were the knuckles on her right hand. She was sure to have some bruising show up from that fierce right hook that connected on Ed’s cheek.
---
Kim’s silence was upsetting. Ed wanted to steal his sister away from Starbuck. While that failed, he’d managed to accomplish the next best thing. The tension growing between the couple was just as damaging. But what was Starbuck supposed to do? He was a dad first and foremost. He had a responsibility to Kamea above all others.
At the officer’s mention of injuries, Starbuck nodded hesitantly. He handed Kamea over to Kim and raised his shirt. Bruises were forming all along his torso and chest. Below the hem of his shorts, a large knot was starting to sprout above his knee. He’d only thrown two punches, so his knuckles looked fine, but his right foot was sore where he’d kicked Luke repeatedly.
“Is there anyway we can do most of this tomorrow?” Starbuck asked the officer. The man had just signaled another to come over with a camera. “We can take full statements tomorrow, but we need the photos now... and possibly more later as your injuries develop.” Starbuck wasn’t sure how to tell the man that the injuries would heal quickly, so he just nodded. “I just want to put my daughter to bed,” he said in a tired tone.
---
Kim knew that Kamea came first in Starbuck’s life and she couldn’t blame him for that. She hated Ed for coming into their home and causing this tension between them. When Starbuck handed Kamea to her, she sat her in her lap, holding her and rocking her gently. “It’s ok, sweetie,” she said softly.
Looking at Starbuck, she gasped slightly as she saw the bruises forming on his body. What the hell had they done to him? She felt anger surge inside of her again, but she forced herself to stay calm. Kim wanted to beat the crap out of Ed and Luke for hurting the man she loved.
She stayed quiet as Starbuck spoke with the officer. It was then that she started to become nervous about them learning more about what had happened. If they came back to look at Starbuck’s injuries tomorrow, there would barely be anything to document. And then they’d start asking more questions. This was all such a mess. “Can I just put her to bed, please?” she asked one of the officers, her toned just as exhausted and drained as Starbuck’s.
---
The officer had leaned forward to get a closer look at Starbuck’s injuries, chancing a glance at Kim just a second later. Kim couldn’t hide the fact that she was hurt. Her posture and the bruises forming on her knuckles were obvious to the trained eye.
Giving Kim a nod, the officer allowed her to take Kamea away. Then he motioned for Starbuck to stand up. “Let’s get some pictures, sir. If you could take your shirt off altogether.” Starbuck did as he was told, groaning in pain as he pushed off the couch. It hurt like hell to make even the slightest movement. The camera clicked too many times to count, the flash making Starbuck blink. He raised the hem of his shorts so the photographer could snap a few shots of his knee as well. When that was all done, Starbuck answered more questions.
It seemed like forever, but the police eventually gathered all they needed and gave Starbuck some paperwork as well as a business card for who he needed to contact tomorrow. The officers made their way to the door, and Starbuck followed, limping slightly. His injuries were really starting to set in, and he made a mental note of how he felt so he could fake it tomorrow if he healed too much. Like Kim, he was worried about raising suspicion.
The police gone, Starbuck hobbled over to the patio and let the dogs back in. They were whimpering and licked at his legs and fingertips. “Go to bed,” he told them softly, gently lowering himself onto the couch once more.
---
When the officer gave her a nod, Kim stood up, bowing her head down so the cops wouldn’t see her wincing in pain. She walked out of the living room and down the hall to Kamea’s room. The little girl was a bit more calm, clinging tightly to her blanket and toy. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, kissing the top of Kamea’s head. She hated how everything had unraveled and caused Kamea to become upset. Kim just wanted the little girl to be happy and healthy. And she wouldn’t have allowed anything bad to happen to her either.
Kim held her in her arms for a while, rocking her gently as she rubbed her back. She didn’t want to put her down until she was sure she’d be ok and fall asleep. Feeling Kamea’s body start to relax, Kim walked toward her bed and gently set her down. She covered her little body with her blanket and settled her stuffed toy next to her. Kim watched her for a bit, making sure she was asleep before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
Walking out of Kamea’s room, she shut the door quietly and shuffled back to the living room. Kim’s eyes followed the dogs as they filed back into her and Starbuck’s room. The police were gone and now Starbuck was the only one left. Standing awkwardly by the armchair, she reluctantly looked over at Starbuck. “She’s sleeping,” she said gently.
---
Starbuck was tired, but his head was too much of a mess to ever let him sleep. He may as well just camp out on the sofa and watch mind-numbing TV all night, maybe with a few ice packs on his body and a jug of juice at his side. He felt like shit, physically and emotionally drained.
Hearing Kim approach, Starbuck looked up. His expression was mixed. Apologetic, stubborn, frustrated, and lonely all at once. It hurt to feel this distance between himself and Kim.
He nodded and whispered, “Thanks... I’ll check on her in a bit. I don’t wanna wake her.” Kamea was a heavy sleeper, but only after the first hour. Before that, you had to tiptoe around to avoid waking her.
“Come here,” he finally said, restraining a groan as he scooted to make room for Kim beside him.
---
Kim hated the distance between them as well, but she felt that there was nothing she could do about it. She felt torn up inside, countless emotions pulling her in every which way. At his thanks, she nodded slightly and looked away. The adrenaline was gone from her system and now she was starting to crash. Her back was aching and her knuckles and legs were sore. She just wanted to go to sleep and wake up from this horrible nightmare.
But it wasn’t that easy. This wasn’t a nightmare and, as much as she didn’t want to, Kim had to face this head on. Her brows were furrowed as she looked up at Starbuck, seeing him wince as he moved on the couch. She walked over and sat next to him, a worried look settling on her face as she looked at his bruises up close. “Try not to move so much,” she replied simply. “Do you want ice?”
---
Starbuck shook his head to answer her question, though it violated her suggestion that he not move so much. Ice seemed like too much effort. Plus, he had bigger things to worry about right now. Kim for starters.
“Let me see your back. Maybe I can fix it.” While the officers had probably noticed that Kim was in pain, they hadn’t seen her back, so he could heal it without worry. Maybe. Starbuck was tired and hurting, which might make him useless.
---
This time it was Kim’s turn to shake her head. “No,” she replied firmly. “You’re tired. I’m not gonna let you try and fix me only to pass out in the process.” She could see how hurt Starbuck was and she wasn’t about to let him use the last of his energy just to heal her back. She’d rather just deal with the pain.
Standing up, she cradled her right hand as she walked over to the kitchen. “I’m getting you ice and some juice.”
---
Starbuck wanted to protest and insist that he at least try, but Kim was right. He didn’t even have the energy to argue right now, let alone heal her. It made him feel powerless, and he thought back to what Ed said the last time they talked on the phone. Something about Starbuck not being able to protect Kim. What if the rest of her family showed up? Starbuck couldn’t take on a pack of lycans. He’d gotten lucky in besting Luke.
As Kim fetched the ice and juice, Starbuck let his head rest against the cushions on the back of the sofa. He closed his eyes for a minute, though sleep was far, far away. Soon, he felt Kim return, and Starbuck’s eyes reopened. He took the juice from her and sipped at it. Taking the bag of ice after a moment, Starbuck let it cover his sternum, which seemed to hurt the worst. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled quietly.
---
The thought of the rest of her family showing up made Kim sick to her stomach. If that ever happened, Kim would fight like hell to keep Starbuck and Kamea safe. And if Ed happened to be there, Kim knew he’d be fighting on her side. Though his methods were twisted, all he wanted was for his sister to be safe. All he needed to understand now was that she had that safety with Starbuck.
Kim fumbled around in the kitchen, wincing as she flexed the fingers on her right hand. Once she had a glass of juice and a bag of ice prepared, she headed back to the living room and handed them over to Starbuck. Sitting beside him, she regarded him carefully as he settled the bag on his sternum. When he spoke, her eyes moved up to his face. “Don’t,” she replied simply, her brows still furrowed with worry.
---
Starbuck wouldn’t be silenced. They had to talk about this now. “I don’t have any other choice, Kim. You saw Kamea... he can hurt her without touching her. She’s never been so upset in her life.” He sighed and leaned forward with a slight hiss from the pain, setting his glass on the coffee table.
“I’ve tried. Ed won’t listen, and I don’t think he’s gonna give up. I have to do something to keep him away.” Getting beat up was one thing, but having Kamea suffer as a result could not be tolerated.
---
“I hate that as much as you do,” she began. “I hate that he was able to make her upset like that. But..” Kim paused and let out a frustrated sigh. This was all so fucked up. She was torn in between the only two men she cared about and it hurt like hell.
Kim rested her elbows on her knees and raked her fingers through her hair. She groaned slightly, feeling a twinge of pain travel down her spine as she leaned forward. “There had to have been another way,” she replied, her composure starting to waver. “This is gonna get worse..”
---
What other way? Starbuck really had tried to make peace with Ed. He’d tried ignoring him too. Nothing was working. Ed would only come back, unless there was something to keep him at bay. The threat of being arrested seemed to work alright.
But Kim had a point, this was likely to get worse. “Maybe I should... go back to Maui for a while.”
---
Kim didn’t know if there was any other way to get through to Ed. It really did feel like they had tried everything already. Ed said he didn’t give a shit about the police, but Kim knew better. He didn’t want to get arrested again so the possibility was sure to keep him away. In turn, it would give his emotions time to fester inside him, making him possibly more dangerous than he had been.
It felt like she had been shot through the heart when Starbuck said he should probably go back to Maui for a while. Her brows were still furrowed, but it was hurt that now filled her eyes. “What?” she asked, her voice shaking now. The thought of being away from him hurt more than anything else did right now.
---
Starbuck didn’t want to leave, but Kim asked for other options, and that seemed like a viable (albeit sucky) one. “He’s not going to travel all the way to Hawaii to pick another fight. Kamea would be safe there.” He resisted saying ‘happy’, because while Kamea loved her grandma and the island, she would hate being away from Kim. “There aren’t a lot of options, Kim. If you’ve got ideas... I’m willing to listen.”
---
It was breaking her heart to hear this, but Starbuck had a point. He and Kamea would be safer away from here. But Kim didn’t want them to have to leave. It was selfish, but she wanted them to stay right here with her. She didn’t want to be alone and she couldn’t stand to be without them. They were her family now.
“I don’t know,” she replied shakily as she buried her face in her hands. She was torn in between keeping her brother out of trouble and keeping Starbuck and Kamea here with her. Why did this have to be so difficult? Kim didn’t want to be forced to make a choice between the two, but it seemed like she’d have to.
---
Starbuck didn’t want her to have to choose either. It wasn’t fair. He knew she loved Ed and wanted him to be part of her life. Why Ed couldn’t pull his head out of his ass and be there for his sister, supporting her, Starbuck didn’t know.
Like Kim, Starbuck felt torn. His little girl needed him, but if keeping her safe and happy meant being away from Kim, Starbuck wasn’t sure he’d continue to function. He needed Kim in his life. He wanted to spend every moment of every day for as long as he lived with Kim by his side. “Maybe just... until things calm down.” That was a lie. They both knew Ed wasn’t going to feel better about this with time. “I could spend some time at my mom’s... and drop the charges. Ed wouldn’t have to get in trouble.”
---
Kim wished so badly that Ed could just understand how much she and Starbuck loved and cared for one another. For the first time in her life, she was truly happy, but Ed was ruining it.
Ed was not going to calm down. Especially not after the beating they had given him and Luke. Kim looked up at Starbuck, tears now welling up in her eyes. She was hurting so damn much, but she couldn’t stand to be away from Starbuck. “No,” she said, shaking her head as a few stray tears streaked down her cheeks. “Don’t drop them. Get the restraining order. He needs to learn a lesson.” Hopefully, this would show Ed that they were serious about keeping their family safe.
---
Starbuck felt horrible. Even though none of this was his fault, guilt settled into his gut as he watched Kim cry. There was nothing he could do to fix this, and while the charges and restraining order might keep Ed away, they wouldn’t repair the damage done to Kim and Ed’s relationship. “I’m sorry,” he said again. There was nothing more to say. He pulled Kim over, despite the pain it caused him, to let her rest in his arms. Starbuck was careful to not touch her back.
---
Kim felt horrible about everything too, but this was what had to be done. She refused to have Starbuck go away just because her brother couldn’t control his temper. “Don’t be,” she replied, wiping her tears. “You did what you had to do.” She’d work on fixing her relationship with her brother later because right now, she just wanted things to be ok with her and Starbuck. She let him pull her into his arms and was careful not to lean against the bruises on his chest. Her right hand came up to help him hold the ice to his sternum as she rested her forehead against his cheek. Her back was throbbing now, but she didn’t want to move from his arms.
---
Starbuck pulled the bag of ice from Kim’s hand and gently placed it upon her back as he held her. “I’ll heal it in the morning. Unless you want me to call Wes. He could come over right now and fix you up.” Wes probably wouldn’t mind. But if Wes came over, they’d have to explain what happened again, and that would probably just lead to more frustration for Starbuck and Kim alike.
---
Kim flinched a little when Starbuck placed the ice on her back. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain the night’s ordeal to anyone else. “No, don’t call him,” she said with a slight shake of her head. “I’ll be fine.” Sleeping wasn’t going to be easy tonight regardless of whether her back was healed or not.
---
“Okay, I won’t.” Starbuck didn’t like that Kim was in pain, but he wouldn’t force her to see a healer. Besides, he’d be strong enough in the morning to heal her back. “Can I get something else for you? I could make you something to eat. I’d even go get you a burger if you really want.” A big offer from Starbuck, but he felt bad and he wanted to make Kim feel better.
---
“I’m not hungry,” she replied in an eerily soft voice. The thought of eating anything right now actually made her sick to her stomach. “You shouldn’t be moving anyway.” She sat up slightly, wincing as she felt a jolt of pain shoot through her back. Her brows furrowed as her eyes scanned the bruises on Starbuck’s torso. “They’re getting worse..” How could they have done this to him? It made her even sicker to think about it.
---
Starbuck grabbed a blanket that was draped over the back of the couch and used it to cover his chest. “I’m fine. Just some bruises.” He didn’t want Kim worrying about it. The look on her face was too much for him. “You should go to bed and get some rest.” As for Starbuck, he’d probably stay awake all night and think.
---
“That doesn’t look fine to me,” she responded as she watched him cover his chest up. He wasn’t gonna get her to worry less by just covering up and telling her to go to bed. Kim looked up at him and shook her head again. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep tonight..” She was drained physically and emotionally, but her mind wouldn’t calm down enough to let her fall asleep.
---
Starbuck pulled himself away from Kim and got to his feet with some effort and a whole lot of pain. It felt as though he’d been run over by a truck. Luke had caused some serious damage. It made Starbuck wonder if he had a fractured rib. They were bruised at the very least.
“Come on.. we’ll get in bed anyway. Just... watch some TV or something. There’s no sense in just sitting on the couch all night.”
---
Kim frowned when he pulled away and then stood up quickly, trying to help him as he stood. She hated seeing the pain that took over his features. Her hands came to his sides, holding him gently as she went to put his arm over her shoulders. “Don’t put any weight on your leg. Just lean on me.” All she wanted now was to be curled up in bed beside him, but their minds weren’t going to let them have a peaceful night.
Once Starbuck’s arm was over her shoulder, Kim slowly began to shuffle toward their bedroom.
---
Starbuck didn’t want to put his weight on Kim. She was injured too. But she was also stubborn, and she wasn’t really giving him a choice in the matter. He leaned on her lightly to keep her from complaining.
They made it into their room, and Starbuck pulled back the covers, slowly sitting down on the mattress. “Come here,” he told her, motioning for her to lift her arms up before pulling her shirt off. Starbuck tugged her shorts down next. Scooting over on the bed, he made room for her beside him and groaned as he laid down and put his head on the pillow.
---
Yes, Kim was incredibly stubborn. And there was no way she was gonna let him walk back to their room putting all his weight on a bad leg.
Once they were in their room, she stepped back and tried to pull off her shirt on her own, but it was too painful. Kim stepped toward Starbuck and lifted her arms, letting him pull off her shirt and shorts. Stepping out of her shorts, she climbed into the bed, groaning as she lay on her side. She looked over at him with a sad look in her eyes and gently put a hand up to his cheek. “I’m so sorry, baby.” Her voice was soft and shaky as she felt all these emotions flooding in.
---
Starbuck’s hand slid up over the top of Kim’s, bringing it to his lips so he could kiss her palm. “New rule... no more apologizing for this. You didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t do anything wrong. Ed and Luke are idiots. Ed... because he can’t see how good we are together... and Luke... well, Luke’s just a tool. Fuck him.”
Scooting so he was closer to her, Starbuck lightly kissed Kim’s lips. “We’ll be fine. The bruises will heal, we’ll figure out.. something with Ed... and it will all be okay. I promise.”
---
The sad little look on Kim’s face didn’t go away even when he kissed her palm. She may not have done anything wrong, but she still felt like this was all her fault. It was her fucked up brother and his stupid best friend that had come into their home and threatened to ruin everything she and Starbuck had built together. Kim’s frown deepened when Starbuck talked about her brother being an idiot, but her heart sank when he said those words about Luke. She had literally fucked Luke, but Starbuck didn’t know that and she was afraid to tell him. Still, something inside her said that she should tell him now before Luke let it slip. “I... um...”
Kim sighed slightly as she accepted his soft kiss. The hand that was on his cheek kept gently caressing his face as he spoke. “I wish I could be as sure about that as you are..” She really wanted everything to be ok, but she didn’t know that it would be.
---
Kim seemed more upset now. That wasn’t Starbuck’s goal at all. He’d been trying to reassure her. The night had sucked, but they were strong enough to survive this. It was just some bruising and harsh words. He was calmer now, and by the time morning rolled around, he might even ask police to drop the charges. It was enough to simply get a restraining order for himself and Kamea.
“Aw, baby, it’s okay... really. We’ll find a way to fix this. I love you. I’m gonna make this right.”
---
Even with all his reassuring words, Kim was feeling worse, though now it was all her doing. She had been able to tell Starbuck about her parents and her entire past. He knew pretty much everything now except for the fact that she had slept with Luke. She had no idea how he’d react to it, but she had to let him know before he found out some other way.
Her mind felt like it was going a mile a minute as he spoke. Not even responding to his words of love, she found herself blurting out meekly, “I slept with Luke..”
---
Starbuck could tell something more was going on inside Kim’s head, but like so often in the past, he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to upset her by asking. Kim would tell Starbuck what was on her mind when she was good and ready, just like always. But she coughed up the thoughts that were troubling her quickly this time.
Unsure what to say at first, Starbuck was quiet. “Oh...” he said softly. Then, realizing that might have come out the wrong way, Starbuck quickly added, “I’m not mad. I just... didn’t know... now I do.” He was more confused than anything. What did Kim see in Luke? Though, plenty of people said that about Starbuck having loved Kat. So who was he to judge?
---
Worry was painted across her face as she watched Starbuck’s reaction. She was scared to tell him because of what he’d think. Apparently, he wasn’t mad about it, but Kim still felt horrible and wanted to explain herself. “It was only once during one of the breaks at Halcyon. And it didn’t mean anything. I wish I hadn’t done it.” Kim couldn’t really explain what she had seen in Luke. From the first moment she met him, she had this strange attraction to him. It could’ve had something to do with the fact that he was the first male lycan she had met outside of her family, but she didn’t really know if that was it. “I didn’t want you to hear it from him.”
---
“Kim, it’s okay,” he assured her, smoothing his hand over her shoulder and up her neck. “It’s in your past. There’s no sense in me getting upset over a guy you had sex with once. You love me. I know that.” He didn’t want her feeling guilty over it, and he definitely didn’t want her to regret it. “We’ve both dated other people... some of them... fuck, I have no idea why.” It was still baffling to Starbuck how he’d fallen for Kat. “None of it matters though. Just matters than you and I are here together now.”
---
“I do love you,” she replied, cradling his face in her hands. “So much.” Still, she couldn’t help but feel regret for having slept with Luke. Kim couldn’t understand what she ever saw in him. “You’re honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I can’t imagine being without you. I don’t ever want to keep anything from you again because I know nothing good will ever come of it.” She wasn’t used to being so open with anyone, but Starbuck wasn’t just anyone. He had taught her how to trust again and what real love was. Kim refused to lose him simply because she couldn’t open up.
---
He kissed her quickly on the cheek when she told him she loved him and then went on to say that he was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Starbuck couldn’t use those exact words in return, because he had Kamea, but Kim was right up there next to his daughter. He loved them both so much. This was his family and nothing mattered more.
“You don’t have to keep anything from me. I can’t promise to never be upset over stuff you tell me, but nothing you say could ever make me stop loving you. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again... I’m yours forever. My love for you will never fade or cease.”
---
Kim was overwhelmed with so much emotion right now, her eyes beginning to well up with tears at his words. Forever didn’t scare her anymore. Starbuck said it plenty of times before, and when he did, it sunk in deeper with her. All the fear she had felt before was gone as she rested her forehead against his. “You’re all I want for the rest of my life.” Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his in a tender kiss.
---
Starbuck smiled against her lips. Hearing her say that made all the bad shit fade into the background. “Good, ‘cause you’re stuck with me,” he teased, keeping his forehead pressed to hers. The pain in his leg and chest wasn’t so bad now. He was able to block it out and focus on the love he felt for Kim. She made everything better.
---
For the first time since the fight, Kim was able to crack a smile. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be stuck with.” The pain she felt in her back seemed to fade away as well. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that she and Starbuck loved each other. Their love was what would help them through this.
She scooted in a little closer to him, careful not to bump against the bruises on his chest or leg as she pulled the covers over them. “I love you,” she said softly as she settled herself under the crook of his neck.
---
Not caring about his injuries, Starbuck pulled Kim closer to him. He needed to feel her body pressed to his. Some people struggled to sleep as a pair, but not Starbuck and Kim. They stayed glued together throughout the night and nearly always woke up wrapped up in each other’s arms. “I love you too, shortie,” he joked. His mind was more at ease now. Maybe sleep was achievable.
---
Kim was still worried about his injuries, but she needed to be closer to him. Her arm wrapped around his back, holding herself close to him as she smiled at his joke. It was a wonder they were able to sleep so well like this. Kim always felt so safe when she slept in Starbuck’s arms. Tilting her head forward, she placed a gentle kiss on his chest before she closed her eyes. Hopefully sleep would come a bit easier than she thought it would.