Past Transgressions - Mature 18+

Chapter 20

Case caught her in his arms, stroking her hair and soothing her as she cried.

"Shhhh, it will be alright darlin', I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere!"

Lex looked on as Case comforted Brace, trying to see through the red haze of him having his hands on his woman, and fighting through the pain that she had run to Case, not him for comfort when she needed it.

Finally getting herself under control she leaned back, wiped her eyes, and looked up at Case.

"I thought you weren't arriving until tomorrow?"

Rubbing the remainder of the tears off her cheek with his thumb gently,

"We caught an earlier flight"

Pulling back a little farther and looking at Jake, "can we go home now?" Brace asked

"Yes absolutely!" her brother responded

Gathering her under his arm Case supported her as they headed back out of the hospital. As they passed by Lex, Brace met his eyes seeing the pain he was feeling at her choice of Case reflected back at her but unable to give it importance with her anguish at almost being caught by the lunatic that has been stalking her. Breaking eye contact she let Case bundle her out of the hospital and into Jake's  car for the drive home.

Jake didn't bother to ask where Brace planned to stay that night, he just took them all straight back to their parent's house.

"Brace-" Jake started once they were all enclosed in the house for the night.

"Not tonight Jake, I just can't. I am going to just head to bed, sorry everyone."

"Don't apologize, you have had a rough day!" Jake said

Giving Jake a hug she headed down to her room, changing into a t-shirt and climbing into the bed hoping that sleep would be quick to claim her. Her body felt every bump and every bruise she got from throwing herself out of the car but her mind after the initial shock wore off was elated, she finally had a face to put to the stalker and it would help them catch him. She had given the description to the sketch artist and they had high hopes this would all be over soon. But now with the quiet surrounding her she felt the pain that she had been avoiding, Lex with Trina, her hands on him with familiarity and him not seeming to mind it. Knowing from those touches that they had a history and it looked like Trina didn't want to leave it in the past,  and it was eating away at her with jealousy.  She knew it wasn't a coincidence that she was here right now trying to turn Lex's attention, Lex's father had made no secret of the fact that he didn't think that she fit in their world, or ever would. Seeing how perfect they looked together tonight, knowing what type of family she was from and having the support of  Lex's father had her starting to wonder if he wasn't right.

There was a quiet knock on the door as it was gently pushed opened.

"Hi Darlin, I know you aren't sleeping! I know that head of yours takes too much time to think things over"

"You know me too well, Case." she mumbled

"You want to talk about it?" Case asked as he entered the room, quietly closed the door behind himself walked to the bed.

"No-, Yes! I don't know!!"

"You know you always feel better after we talk, get it out and then you can finally sleep."

"You would think I would be unable to sleep because of the attack, but instead I am torn and chewed up inside because of Lex."

"Tell me what happened." Case asked gently

We went to a crew party, and when we arrived all was well. Lex and I had settled into something of a routine, but to be honest I haven't got a clue what to call it. I'm not sure relationship is the right word for what we have going on and I have been too cowardly to actually ask. Anyway, when we arrived the guys went to grab us some drinks and we headed over to Lex's usual spot only it wasn't unoccupied like it usually was, there was a woman there. Trina, she is an old friend of Lex, and it appears while I was gone she got to know him real well. I could see the look in her eye and the possessive way she followed him with her gaze, and he didn't even notice, he was happy to see her. I tried to not let it bother me after all he came with me, right? So for the rest of the night I danced with Topaz and Jake while he was occupied with her, he didn't even notice I had left. Her arms draped all over him in possessively, their heads bent together sharing past history and memories, I know I shouldn't feel jealousy but I knew she wanted him, it was clear and easy to see on her face.

"And you think he wants her too?"

"I am not sure what he wants, I know it is certainly what his father wants which is why she arrived here."

"Wait, you think Lex's father sent for her?"

"Yes, her family has close ties to Lex's based on a "working" relationship and I know that Mr. Dublin doesn't believe I fit in his son's world"

"And you think he sent for Trina to show you that?"

"I think he did, and I think after seeing the way she looked at him she has no problem with his plan for their future, the only problem is I am in the way."

"Well I have seen the way he looks at you and regardless of what his father's plans might be he isn't going to follow them" Case responded.

"I don't know, his father can be extremely difficult"

"Trust me, he isn't going anywhere! Now come here." Case said as he climbed up on the bed leaning his back against the headboard and pulling her close into his side, "try and get some sleep."

Brace snuggled into his side, the familiar feeling of contentment washing over her and decided to let the situation with Lex wait until tomorrow.

That is how Lex found them a short time later when he went to check on Brace. Seeing her snuggled into Case's side sleeping contently, jealousy immediately swamped him and made him see red. He knew Case cared for her as more than a friend that was easy enough for him to see when he was around her, but Brace seemed completely oblivious to it. But that could change now with the situation with Trina and how Brace viewed it after talking to Topaz. There wasn't ever going to be a thing with Trina, that was in the past and he wasn't going back. She was nothing more than a friend and would never be anything more than that ever again, but was the damage already done with Brace?

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A/N

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