Clear and Present Danger

            I wake up the next morning and smile when I feel Kevin's arms around me. I think back to when I first met him, and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding that, but I finally feel like I am able to put that behind me. I have told Kevin that he is the one for me, and that I love him, and he married me, I am so happy. I can’t get over how attentive he is as a husband and a lover. In the middle of my thoughts, the alarm goes off and I feel Kevin's arms tighten around my body.

                                    *            *            *            *            *            *            *                                 

            When Kevin hears the alarm go off, he feels Kala in his arms and tightens them around her as he remembers the previous night. He decides he’s going to make it up to her in a big way, as soon as they’re back in their home. He also feels himself harden.

            Kala knows it and she relieves him of the tension in a most passionate way. After he has come into her mouth he knows that Kala has the ability to make him feel pleasure like he never has before; he can’t get enough of Kala. But he knows that he has a full day and that is to start with a major television interview that is supposed to air all across Europe. He kisses Kala on the cheek as he rolls over and heads for the shower. He knows that if he stays in bed with her for much longer, he will never make the interview on time.

                                    *            *            *            *            *            *            *                                 

            I continue to lie in bed for a few minutes while Kevin is in the shower. Normally I am the first to be out of bed and dressed, but the activities from the night before and the one time this morning have worn me out. Before I know it, Kevin is out of the shower, dressed and sitting on the bed next to me. I roll over and smile up at him as he looks down at me. “Come on lazy bones. Remember, you are supposed to be coming with me today,” Kevin says as he brushes a strand of hair off my forehead.

            “I know, I know. You just wore me out last night, Mister. Why don't you head downstairs so you are not late, and I will see you down there in a little while,” I say as I sit up and quickly kiss Kevin.

            “Well before I go, I want to see you out of this bed, and in the shower. I have a feeling that if I don't do that, you are going to lie back down and drift back to sleep,” Kevin says as he tickles my side to get me out of bed.

            “Ok, you know how to get me up don't you,” I say as I quickly jump out of bed. “Now get going before they come looking for you,” I say as I walk towards the bathroom.

                                    *            *            *            *            *            *            *                                 

            Kevin sits there for several seconds just taking in the view. She is still naked from the night before, and the sight makes him ache for her once more. He looks at her and she catches it, she comes back over to him and gently kisses him as she rubs her hands over his chest and shoulders. Then she nods him to the door as she goes back to the bathroom. There is a knock at the door and Kala throws on a robe. Brian is let into the room and hands her a letter, which has no postmark, and isn’t handwritten or typed, it’s all cut and paste. He gives it to her saying that it was waiting for her in the lobby, so he said he’d bring it to her. She thanks him and opens the envelope. She’s so wrapped up in the letter that Kevin knows that something must be wrong. When she looks up from the letter, she is suddenly pale and hands the letter to Kevin. He reads it and then proceeds to tell Brian what is contained therein, “Brian, in this letter, I have learned that his father got him out of jail, he’s loose, and knows where she is, and who she is with, it sounds like he’s coming for her or is here already, from now on, I don’t want her alone for anything,” he says. Brian nods in agreement. “He says that once he finds her, he will kidnap, rape and ultimately she will live the rest of her life with him. Knowing this guy, he will make good on the threat, I’m going to notify the police and have an extra guard exclusively watch over her.”

            “Kala, I wa…” he begins to say, but the shower is running now.

            “Kevin, and Brian, get to the interview, I’ll be down as soon as I’m done my hair, I promise,” she says. “I won’t even go to the gym.”

            “Okay, I’ll tell security to be on the lookout for this guy,” Kevin calls to her as he and Brian leave.

            It is a good thing that she had closed the door behind herself or he would have never made it on time. He forces himself to walk past the bathroom and exit the hotel room with his cousin.

            An hour later, all the guys have a short break from their morning long interview. Kevin has just assumed that Kala has made it down, because he can’t see anything beyond all the bright lights. The guys make their way to the back of the room where the girls are and Kevin is panicked that Kala is not there.

            Kevin pulls Sarah aside and asks, “Have you seen Kala down here yet this morning?”

            “No I haven't Kevin. She normally goes and works out at this time of the morning. Maybe that is where she is.” Sarah says without putting too much thought into it.

            “No, she can’t be there,” he says. He grabs some guards up and calls hotel security to get up to their room, just to check on her. He and the guards head for the elevators. He worries as all of the thoughts of what could have happened to his precious Kala pass through his mind.

            A few minutes later, Kevin steps off the elevator and heads down the hall towards their room with the security team. He is terrified when he notices that the door is open slightly. He hears nothing coming from the room. When he opens the door he sees that the room is a wreck; there was definitely a struggle there. Everyone races back down the elevators to the meeting room.

            Everyone is against the wall, though Howie and Natalia are missing, and Kevin is outraged to see that Jason has Kala in a compromising position, with a knife to her throat. Kala’s clothes have blood soaked rips in them, and there are bruises all over her face.

             “JASON!” Kevin rages.

            “Well, well, well, I see that your little husband has arrived my love, oh look, and he’s brought his little security guards too, if you don’t mind, back against the wall Kevin, there’s a little something I want you to witness. And the rest of you, outside, or else she dies,” he says. “Just in time to watch the consummation of our affections for each other,” Jason says as he forcibly kisses Kala’s mouth, while holding her against his body.

            “Oh, it’s been far too long my love, really it has,” he says as he fondles her breasts.

            Kala is crying and wants to look to Kevin for help, but she refuses to, as that would upset him. She doesn’t want to push him into doing something rash that would get one or both of them hurt or killed. As Jason reaches for the button on her pants, Kala falls to the floor, giving the guards an opportunity to rush in and get Jason without letting harm come to her. Kevin takes her right up into his arms, and holds her close.

            “Oh, Baby, it’s all going to be okay now, Honey, I promise,” Kevin says as he kneels by her side and holds her close. He doesn’t notice that her eyes close just then.

             Everyone else comes rushing into the room at that moment. “Well here you are, finally you decide to show up; you’ve been nothing but trouble ever since you’ve been around Kevin,” Lou says as he glares at Kala, not even seeing her physical condition.

             “KALA! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?!” Howie shrieks, as he sees what she looks like.  

            “Kala? Kala? Kala?” Kevin calls to her with increasing volume each time. “Oh, Lord, Kala! Answer me!” he cries.

            He sees blood coming from her body, he is just about to start shaking her to get a response, when he hears Sarah yell, “Don’t move her, Kevin.” This just scares him even more, and he puts her down on the floor and backs off by a foot or two as Sarah and everyone arrives at her side. Sarah bends down, checks her pulse, and announces that she’s alive. This gives Kevin some relief, but not much.

            Then he turns on Jason, and loses all control at this point. “Look Jason, I don't know who you think you are but how dare you stalk Kala like this? Do you really think you could get away with doing something like this? Think again Jason. I promise you I am going to make sure that you are charged for doing this to her to the fullest extent of the law possible, and when you go to jail this time, all of the money and power in the world won’t get you out early,” Kevin is saying.

            Hotel security takes care of the evidence, and the culprit. They are escorting him out of the room within seconds. Then Kevin breaks down beside Kala’s body and just cries. Nick tries to reassure Kevin, while the hotel doctor shows up, she carefully dresses Kala’s injuries, thankfully, there is little damage done to her as most of her wounds are little more than deep scratches, and bruises, and everyone knows that they will heal.

            An ambulance is called and the medics rush in and take Kala and Kevin to the hospital. The other guys will follow shortly thereafter.

            Kevin keeps praying to God that if he lets him keep Kala, that he will make it up to her. Every time he hears a door open, he lifts his head up, in hopes that it is Kala's doctor coming out to tell them some news, some good news. When he looks up this time, he sees the guys and their girls run into the emergency room. He is glad that the situation doesn’t need explaining, because he doesn’t think he will be able to recite what has happened. Kevin is so ashamed of himself for letting Kala get in harm’s way once more.

            After a few minutes, all the guys and girls come over to try and comfort Kevin, but nothing seems to be working. Kevin jumps when he hears a female voice say, “Is there a Kevin Richardson here?” She makes her way over the group and shook Kevin's hand. “Hi, Kevin, I am Dr. Kathy Sander. I just finished examining Kala. She has quite a severe concussion, which will keep her in the hospital for several days. But other than that she, only has a few cuts and bruises. She woke up just a few minutes ago and has been asking for you ever since. All I ask is that you don't upset her, and remember, she needs her rest.”

             “There’s no damage?” he asks.

            “There are the external injuries, but you probably know all about those.”

            “Yes, sadly, this is far from the first time she’s been attacked in this manner,” Kevin says.

             “Otherwise, she’s fine, no broken bones, but she’s going to be a little shaky for a while, so make her take things slow and easy for a week at least,” the doctor says.

            Kevin sighs with relief and follows the doctor to Kala's room. He is taken back when he sees Kala's thin and pale body lying in the bed, it reminds him of what she looked like when they first met, except, now she is even thinner. She looks so delicate he thinks to himself.

            He is startled when he hears Kala's faint voice say, “I'm glad you’re here, Kevin.”

            He quickly rushes to her side and takes her hand in his, and says, “Where else would I be?”

            “I don’t know,” she says quietly.

            Kevin can’t say anything. He just rests his head on Kala's bed and lets the tears fall. He was afraid that he had lost her forever. He instantly feels Kala's hand go through his hair. After few minutes he has rid himself of most of the pent up emotions, her hand helps to calm him down enough to look at her.

                                    *            *            *            *            *            *            *                                 

            I look at the man I love, and know that he is hurting. I reach up and wipe his tears away before I say, “I give you no blame in this accident, Kevin, you did not put me into harm’s way. I don’t find this to be your fault in any way; I love you dearly and will go out of my way to make you understand that this is in no way your fault. If I knew that you took any amount of responsibility for this attack. Please tell me that you take no blame for what happened this morning.”

            “I do take blame, it’s my fault,” he says.

            “Sh Kevin. It is no one’s fault, it is one of those little God-sent reminders, that’s all,” I say as I place a finger over Kevin's mouth.

            “But I'm the reason you're lying in this hospital bed,” Kevin says.

            “No, you’re not, my love,” I plead. “Jason is the reason that I’m in this hospital bed. I want you to understand that there was nothing that you could have done to prevent this attack, short of dragging me down to the interview while I was naked beneath my robe, and somehow, that didn’t seem like the best of ideas. I will not let this subject go until I feel as though I have convinced you that this is not your fault. Try to put it out of your mind.”

            “What do you mean a God-sent reminder?” he asks.

            “He reminded us of just how much we love one another, and also how precious life is,” I say.

            “Ok, I will try and forget about it now. More importantly, how are you feeling?” Kevin asks.

            “Well, I’m hurting physically, and I feel a little dizzy, but other than that I think I am okay,” I say, trying to convince Kevin that I am indeed going to be okay.

            “Well, I don’t know if you’ll be released today or what, but I can tell you that I’m not going to leave your side,” Kevin says squeezing my hand.

            “You don't have to do that Kevin. I'm actually feeling pretty tired right now,” I say as I close my eyes.

            Kevin reaches up and brushes some hair out of my face, and says, “Then go to sleep. I'll be right here.”

            “Can you do me a favor, Kevin?” I ask.

             “Anything for you Kala,” Kevin responds.

            “Can you hold me? I know you're not supposed to get into bed with me, but I need to feel your arms around me,” I say looking up at Kevin.

                                    *            *            *            *            *            *            *                                 

            Kevin gets up and helps Kala move over on the bed, as he gets comfortable on his side and takes Kala in his arms. Kevin opens his eyes and looks around the room. He must have dozed off for a few minutes. He looks over at Kala sleeping peacefully and gives her a light kiss on the forehead she twists around in her sleep and faces her husband, and wakes up. He looks over at the door when he hears it open, and sees Dr. Sander entering the room. He knows he should be making an effort to try and move, but he doesn’t want to wake Kala, then he sees her eyes are open.

            “Hi, Baby, did I wake you?” Kevin asks. She shakes her head no with a smile as they kiss.

            “I didn’t realize you were still in here with her,” the doctor says as she looks at Kala's chart at the end of the bed. Kala snaps her head to look at the doctor; the sudden movement hurts her head. “No, Kala, you really need to lie still,” Dr. Sander says as she and Kevin calm her after the shock of pain.

            “She asked me to hold her, and then we both drifted off to sleep,” Kevin explains.

            “Well, actually, I have some good news for you two, Kala will be released in a few hours, we just want to keep her here a little while longer while we wait for some tests to come back,” Dr. Sander explains.

             “Wonderful,” Kala says.

            “Good, I was hoping I could stay here with her until her release,” Kevin says.

            “I am surprised that you have the time for that Kevin,” Dr. Sander says.

            “Did someone tell you?” Kevin questions.

            “No, I recognized you. My daughter is a huge fan, and you are plastered all over her bedroom walls. Please be assured that I will keep the fact that I am caring for your wife and all other information about you two to myself,” she explained.

            “What do you mean?” he asks.

            “Well today is bring your child to work day, as soon as I got your wife’s case, I sent my daughter to my office to file paperwork, I didn’t want to do any harm,” she says.

            “Well, thank you very much for the consideration, I certainly wouldn’t want to cause a stir. However, as to your daughter, maybe, once Kala is a little more awake, and if your daughter promises not to cause too much of a disturbance, you can bring her in and I will be happy to meet her,” Kevin offers as he strokes Kala’s hair. She loves it when he does that and she snuggles right up into his strong, warm body.

            “That would make her one happy girl. If I bring her in, in a few moments, would you really be willing to meet with her?” Dr. Sander asks.

            “Um, well, sure, I suppose so, but, as I don’t want to leave Kala’s side, I’d meet your daughter here, and I don’t want too much noise to upset my wife,” he says. 

            “Oh, of course, my daughter will know full and well to control herself,” Dr. Sander says.

            “I’m sorry, Dr. Sander, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Kevin says.

            “Ha, don’t worry about a thing, I understood, any girl faced with you could easily get out of control,” Dr. Sander laughs gently and quietly.

            “I would like to meet her very much, if guests are allowed in here, then I’ll even arrange for the other guys to be here as well, and she can meet all of us,” Kevin says.

            “Ok, I will go and get her then, and bring her in just before Kala is released,” Dr. Sander says as she exits the room.

            After about ten minutes, Sarah enters the room, and quietly says, “The police have just arrived Kevin. They would like to talk to both you and Kala.”
            “I don't think Kala is ready to talk yet, but I can tell them everything that I know. Go ahead and let them in, Sarah, thank you,” Kevin says as he lightly strokes Kala's hair.

            Kevin goes and gets the guys and their girls, and when he comes back in he looks at Kala with tears in his eyes and sadly shakes his head. He sits down beside her and cries. She holds him close and comforts him. She kisses all of Kevin’s tears away as she runs her fingers through his hair. Kevin looks down at Kala and gives her a sweet kiss.

            A few minutes later, two police officers enter the room, and one says, “Hello Mr. Richardson. Do you mind if we ask the ten of you some questions?”
            Kevin is just about to say he will help them in any way possible, when Kala sits up and agrees to answer all their questions.
            For the next hour, Kevin, Kala and everyone else is questioned. Even though the officers are women, and are therefore very sensitive to Kala, she still sheds a few tears, but insists that she wants to finish, and ensure that Jason gets what he deserves. Before the police leave, they assure her that they have enough evidence to charge Jason with harassment and aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon, and threat to kidnap and rape. Someone will be in touch to keep them informed as to the outcome of the trial. They also take Kala’s blood stained clothes, which is the only thing that really seems to upset her, she was wearing her favorite sweater set and nicest jeans during the attack. Kevin promises her that he will get her a new sweater set and jeans as soon as he can. This only slightly pacifies Kala, she wants her old set; it had meaning to her.

            Kevin and the others are all going to meet with Dr. Sander’s daughter two hours later, Kala is to be released then, and the papers for her release are being put in order, so Kevin thinks that meeting the girl will be a good idea. But what he doesn’t know is that the girl’s four best friends are also with their parents that day at the hospital. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut when she found out she was to meet the famed Backstreet Boys, and has asked along her four of her friends each one of them has a favorite group member. They walk into the room, and find all five guys and their girls in the room.

            They become hysterical when they see who is in the room. They run up to the guys, screaming and jumping up and down and the noise upsets Kala, and the boys’ girls grab the young girls, clapping their hands over their mouths so that they don’t make anymore noise, Dr. Sander snatches up her daughter.  The five women take the little girls outside where Dr. Sander disciplines them harshly, the other four women go back into the room, then a few minutes later, Leighanne pops her head out and tells them that they can come back in, but they can’t make any noise. Dr. Sander goes in and apologizes.

            When they do come back into the room, they see what their yelling has done, Kala is shivering in a tiny ball of fear and crying, she is being held close by Kevin, in his lap, he is stroking her hair tenderly, and cooing softly to her, to try to get her to unfurl herself from the ball she has tucked herself into. The five guys begin singing to calm her down, this works beautifully.