My Past Our Future

Chapter 20

"Katherine, he's going to be fine." Pulitzer said to his daughter. Katherine looked up at him through watery eyes.

"I know."

"Then why are you still crying?" He asked sounding very annoyed. The doctor had made her and Pulitzer leave the office so she was currently sitting on a couch in the main room.

"Because I'm stupid, and useless, and a bit-"

"Katherine!" Pulitzer snapped "This has gotten out of hand, you either tell me what's happened or stop crying."

Katherine stopped crying, the last thing she wanted was to have her father find out. She felt so broken she could hardly think straight. It had to of been a few hours since Spencer left and she was worried sick about him finding Sara. If that Ray guy had kidnapped her then what if he took Spencer too? What if Spencer was killed in the process of trying to find her? She couldn't bear to have two of her boys hurt.

Just then the doctor came in and closed the big oak doors quietly behind him. He was an older doctor with a kind face and fluffy white hair. He held a sense of wisdom and authority around him.

"He will be fine Miss Pulitzer, you should let him rest though he did lose a lot of blood." The doctor said kindly. Katherine shot to her feet and nodded in response, she wanted to see him but she wasn't to sure if he wanted to see her. Maybe she should just let him rest, it had to of been close to 3 or 4 in the morning. Katherine wasn't a bit tired, her power nap earlier that night had done her wonders and she now felt like she'd drank 12 cups of coffee.

Just then the door opened and Spencer came in holding someone in his arms. His white shirt was smudged with dirt and he had a few scratches on his face but other than that he looked fine.

"Spencer!" Katherine cried her hands flying to her chest in relief.

"Hey Kath, you said the girls name was Sara right?" He asked as she rushed up to him. Sure enough, a sleeping Sara Jacobs laid peacefully in his arms. She looked a little worse for wear, her wrists were raw and bleeding and she had a nasty bruise on her jaw. Her brown hair was a frizzy mess around her head and her dress had a long tear in the skirt. Other than that she seemed to be okay.

"Yes, this is her. Why is she sleeping?" Katherine asked directing him to put her on the couch.

"I may or may not have given her some morphine..." Spencer said setting Sara down. Katherine started cracking up, he clutched her sides and doubled over in a laughing fit. Okay, maybe she did need some sleep.

"You... knocked... her out?" Katherine asked through her giggles. "What is up with you and drugging women?"

"Hey I had too!" Spencer said defensively "She wouldn't hold still."

Katherine wiped her eyes and straightened up, it felt good to laugh.

"Maybe you better stay a little longer doc." Pulitzer muttered to the doctor.

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After much complaining from Pulitzer and a frantic Mrs. Jacobs when she learned her daughter had been kidnapped things started to settle down. Spencer was tending to a confused looking Sara who no doubt had a massive headache. Apparently Spencer had found her tied up under the dock and he had had to go under and get her. That must of been the reason they were all scratched up, Spencer had told her that Ray had taken the first boat out of the harbor and would be long gone by the time they got any search out there. Katherine tried not to dwell on the fact that 8 dangerous criminals were out an about strolling New York City.

Mrs. Jacobs was talking to Sara while Spencer wrapped her bloody wrists up, the sight made Katherine strangely happy. Pulitzer had disappeared somewhere no doubt to get away from all the people who had invaded his office, so that left Katherine to sit in her fathers plush leather seat and watch Jack sleep. It wasn't a bad sight either, his shirt was gone so she had a nice view of his chest. There was a big white bandage wrapped around his middle which obscured some of her view but she didn't really mind. As the early signs of morning were beginning to show Katherine began to nod off to sleep, she laid her head on Pulitzer desk and let her eyes flutter closed. She was about to fall into a much needed sleep when she heard the door creek open. She didn't move in hopes they would think she was a sleep and go away but they didn't leave. Curiosity got the best of her and she let her eyes peek between her arms to see who it was. She was surprised to find Spencer standing in the door way with something clutched in his hands. Katherine kept her head down and continued to watch him with interest. He looked up at her, then back down at the picture, then back up at her again. He seemed to be comparing something to her, his gorgeous green eyes looked sad and guilty. Then Spencer's eyes flickered to Jack who was fast asleep on the couch. Instead of coming over to her like she thought he would, Spencer made his way over to Jack. She moved and inch to the right so she could see what he was doing.

"Kelly, wake up." Spencer whispered and smacked Jacks arm none too gently. Jack jerked awake and winced in response to his injured stomach.

"Ugh, what the hell Spencer?" Jack snapped glaring up at him.

"Keep your voice down, your gonna wake Katherine up." Spencer said in a harsh whisper. Jacks eyes found Katherine and she shut her eyes tightly hoping she still looked like she was asleep.

"What do you want?" Jack asked his voice low. Katherine saw Spencer's jaw tighten as he looked back down at the thing in his hands. It looked like a piece of paper, or a picture.

"Here," Spencer said and handed it to Jack. "Katherine told me you'd never seen her before, and well... I thought you might like too."

"Who's-?" Jack started to say but he cut himself off, his eyes widened as he pulled the picture closer trying to see it better in the dim rays of the morning light. "Is this-? It can't be- is it?" Jack asked touching a hand to it.

"Laura Lay Anderson? Yea, that's her." Spencer said putting his hands in his pockets. Katherine's heart grew as she realized what Spencer had done, he remembered her telling him Jack hadn't seen a picture of her before.

"Is it really her? She looks jus' like my father described her." Jack said his voice growing excited. "Where did ya get this?"

"I've had it my whole life, my father gave it to me. I swiped it off my desk before I came here thinking you could use it more than me." Spencer said a little awkwardly. Katherine felt tears of gratitude and joy for Spencer, she couldn't believe he had done something so thoughtful. Especially for Jack.

"Ya gonna give it ta me?" Jack asked looking up from the picture.

"Yea, just take care of it. And... her." Spencer said his voice going very quite. "I care about Katherine just as much as you do so please, don't let her get hurt. I don't want her to end up like our mother, so... I'm gonna step down."

Katherine could hardly believe her ears, did he just say what she though he said?

"She never wanted to be with me Jack, I convinced her it was okay. Don't blame her for this, it's my fault. I've never seen a girl so broken before, it made me sick to think I did that to her. Just... don't let her end up like Laura Lay, and with me gone it won't be so hard." Spencer said his voice relaying so much emotion Katherine started to cry again.

Katherine watched several different emotions cross Jacks face, shock gratitude, and respect.

"Gee... thanks man, it means a lot..." He said and Katherine didn't miss the waver in his voice. "I'se won't let her get hurt, I promise."

There was silence between them and the atmosphere between them seemed to settle. That was something Katherine had never thought possible. Spencer made his way back to the door but Jack stopped him before he could leave.

"Hey Bolt?"

"Yea?"

"Sorry about that time I broke your bed at the Logging House." Jack said. Spencer chuckled quietly and Katherine's heart grew for the two boys.

"Only Jack Kelly could get himself into enough trouble to break a bed." Spencer said his voice teasing. "It's okay. And sorry about the time I pushed you off the docks, when it was raining, in December, into the Hudson..."

Katherine winced at the thought of Jack plunging into the Hudson.

"Only Ryan Spencer would have the guts to push the great Jack Kelly into the Hudson." Jack said teasing too. "But... I guess I forgive you."

There seemed to be an understanding between the two boys, both (for the most part) were forgiven. Katherine had soaked her fathers papers with her tears by now, the boys didn't need her to be able to forgive each other. They did that all on their own. With another look at Katherine and nod in Jacks direction Spencer left the room. Katherine squeezed her eyes shut and tried to drive what she had just witnessed into her memory, she never wanted to forget it. She knew it would most likely be the first and last time it would ever happen.

One thing was for certain, she knew which boy her future was gonna be with.

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Authors Note- Ok I'm planing on one more chapter and then an epilogue. Your thoughts? I wasn't really planing on taking this story any further but if any of you have any ideas... let me know. And GUESS WHAT?? I didn't update 5 times today! Is it sad I made myself wait? Anyway, comment and tell me what you think. I own nothing except for Ryan Spencer... ;) Thx