"The Course of True Love..." Part Ten

"The course of true love never did run smooth." William Shakespeare

It is now about a month after Katherine told Nikolas they could no longer see 
each other. It has been hard on Katherine, and she is glad Jerry Jax is still in 
town to be her "company in her misery." It makes her sad to think of Stefan, and 
how she really just wanted to be with him, and try to make him happy. She 
continues to love and long for him, but is still unsure if Stefan ever really 
loved her. She has kept her time doing PR work for GH to a minimum, and her 
ideas on how to handle the Dr. Jones rape case are working well. The hospital 
has found a replacement for her, Milo Juster. Edward Q. is still not happy that 
Katherine won't be working for GH, and has tried, in vain, to persuade her not 
to leave. 

For the first time in a long time Katherine is enjoying being friends with a 
man. No strings, like money or potential sex, attached. Katherine and Jerry have 
spent their time together doing various activities that friends do… talking on 
the phone at least twice a day, dinning out, watching movies, exchanging stories 
of the things they have done in their lives, playing cards and pool. Jerry even 
flew her to Italy to watch a soccer match, but she was truly more interested in 
the shopping.

On this rainy night Jerry is driving to a business dinner, and Katherine agreed 
to go with him so that he won't get too bored. 

J: So, Lois did you watch the game today?

K: I tried, but to me it's a large group of sweaty men running up and down a 
field. At one point one of the players was hit really hard. He was lying, 
unconscious in the middle of the field… and NO ONE stopped to help him. They 
just kept playing.

Before Jerry can respond, an accident happens just ahead of their car. Two cars 
hit head on and Jerry has to maneuver quickly, so they won't be involved, also. 
When the car stops, Jerry gets out to assess the situation, and Katherine calls 
911. One man was ejected from his car and is lying on the road. Jerry can see 
the man's arm is almost severed. After checking on the people in the other car, 
Katherine comes up behind Jerry.

J: (to himself) I need to make a tourniquet. 

As he looks around he spots a small tree branch, goes to get it, and as he is 
returning he looks at Katherine, who seems to be rooted to the spot she is 
standing in. She is turning pale at the sight of the man's detached and twisted 
arm.

J: Katherine, give me your bra.

K: (confused) What?

J: (a little slower, and trying to catch her eye) Give me your bra.

K: (offended) Why?

J: (loudly) Just do it!

She is startled at his tone, and immediately begins to remove it "Flash Dance" 
style.

J: (exasperated) Do you think I set this up just to get you out of your bra?

She has unhooked it in the back and is working one strap down the sleeve of her 
dress.

K: I wouldn't put past you. 

J: (sarcastically) Yes, Lois I planned this WHOLE thing, and another accident’s 
on the way, so that by time we get to dinner you'll be down to your panties. 
As he finishes his statement she hands the bra to him. He uses it, and the small 
branch to make the tourniquet. Katherine rechecks the people in the other car. 
The police and the paramedics arrive simultaneously. Jerry and Katherine are 
told to go wait by their car until an officer can take an accident report. They 
watch as the paramedics tend to the man's arm. Katherine can't take her eyes off 
of the man, and is looking ashen. Jerry decides he needs to say something to 
bring her out of her trance.

J: (nudging Katherine and smiling) Holy cow Lois, there was enough material in 
that bra for two tourniquets. And the firemen are having a difficult time 
concentrating, what with your being bra-less and how your dress is clinging to 
you and all.

Katherine delivers an open handed smack to the back of his head, and he laughs. 
After they give their statements, Jerry notices Katherine is still ashen. He 
feels her forehead, and brushes her hair away from her face.

J: You don't look well.

K: Can we go home… I feel nauseous.

J: Sight of blood, Huh?  

Katherine nods. He drives her home and then goes to the dinner without her.

The next day Liz is out shopping for a prom dress. She and Lucky have become 
very close since she was raped. They have found that they enjoy being together, 
and are almost inseparable. He is helping her through the ordeal of the trial. 

Store employee: That dress looks wonderful on you!

L: Do you think so?

Liz has been watched from the time Helena decided to make Lucky the target of 
her revenge on the Spencer family. She approaches the store employee and Liz.

H: (sweetly) Why, my dear that dress fits as if it was made for you.

Liz looks embarrassed that a stranger would pay her a complement like that.

L: Thanks.

H: You will turn many a man's head in that dress. (Sighing) Ahh to be young 
again. I'm afraid the only heads I turn these days are from insurance salesmen, 
and scam artists.

L: (giggling, then sincerely) Oh, I think you're beautiful! You remind me of 
Gram. My grandmother. 

H: (masking her ire) My darling, that is soo sweet of you to say.

Liz looks at the price tag, and frowns.

L: (sighing) I would have to work at Ruby's until I'm forty to afford it though. 
Oh, well back it goes.

H: What? You're not going to acquire it? But my dear, you look radiant in that 
dress. I'll tell you what… I'll purchase it for you.

L: (shocked) Oh, I couldn't let you do that!

H: I insist. (Sincerely) You see, I don't have any grandchildren to spoil, but 
if I did I would want one as lovely as you. Let this be my good deed for the 
day, Hummmm?

L: (flattered) Wow! Thank you! 

Liz is unsure what to do. So she gives Helena a quick hug and a peck on the 
cheek. 

Helena is slightly taken aback at Liz's public display of affection, but 
recovers quickly. 

H: The pleasure is all mine. Now run along and change out of that, and I'll take 
care of everything.

As Liz is changing, Helena pays cash for the dress and leaves before Liz can 
return.

L: Where did she go? 

SE: She left right after she paid.

L: Did you get her name? My gram will want me to send a thank you note.

SE: No, but she wanted me to tell you to enjoy the dance, and she was sure big 
things would be happening in your life soon.

Liz looks puzzled, but she can barely contain her excitement as she leaves the 
store. 
 
Later that afternoon, at the nurse’s station-Bobbie, Monica, Aubrey, Amy, and 
Alexis are chatting. Amy sees Katherine coming off the elevator. She grabs a 
clear plastic bag with what appears to be red and white material in it.

Amy: (loudly) "Oh, Katherine. Here. (Waving the bag) The paramedics wanted to be 
sure you got YOUR BRA back." 

All of the conversations stop and everyone looks at Katherine. She appears to be 
slightly humiliated as she takes the bag from a smiling Amy.

K: Thanks.

The women look inquisitively at Amy and Katherine.

Amy: (proudly) Her bra saved a man's life last night.

Monica: (wryly) That's funny… most men think what's IN a bra will save their 
lives.

They all nod their heads and roll their eyes. 

Katherine goes to her office and begins to fill a box with folders. Alexis 
enters and closes the door. Katherine looks up at her, then back down at the 
folders, continuing to work.

A: (hesitantly) You're wondering why I'm here. (Katherine doesn't respond so she 
continues) I never did thank you for not saying anything to Luke.

K: (curtly) I did it for Nikolas (quieter) and Stefan.

A: Yes, of course… I also need to thank you for lying to Helena. You could have…

K: (looking up) Yes, well let's just say you owe me and leave it at that for 
now… (Looking back down) I'm sure you're happy Stefan and I are not together.

A: (earnestly) No matter what I may have thought of you… you did make him happy. 
Happier than he had been in a long time. I know now I should have left it alone.

K: Well, it doesn't matter now… so why don't you leave. I have this feeling we 
may start bonding if you stay, and I'm sure neither one of us could stomach 
that.

A: (nodding) True enough.

After Alexis leaves, Katherine throws away the bag with the blood stained bra. 
It brings back memories of last night's accident and she feels nauseous again. 
She tries to ignore it by thinking of how she can best avoid being caught alone 
by Stefan before and after the board meeting. Even though he stopped calling 
her, he still tries to get her alone every opportunity that is afforded him. She 
is only slightly better at resisting him. Jerry always seems to rescue her from 
herself. She knew Jerry would be at a meeting today, and, therefore, unable to 
help if Stefan managed to get her alone.

Later that afternoon, as the board meeting is underway, and Milo is voted in as 
the new PR person, Katherine begins to feel sick again. Stefan is looking at her 
with great concern on his face. She excuses herself and quickly goes to 
bathroom. She is in one of the stalls vomiting, when Alexis enters the bathroom 
and hears this. Alexis is not aware of who is getting ill, but gets wet paper 
towels ready, goes and gets a cup from nurses station, comes back and fills it 
with water. A very ailing Katherine slowly comes out of the stall, and leans 
against the wall. Without a word, Alexis hands her the cup of water, and 
Katherine rinses her mouth out. She leans against the wall again, and then 
slowly sinks to the floor. Alexis squats down, and dabs the wet towels on 
Katherine's face. Katherine all at once hates that Alexis is being genuinely 
nice to her, and yet is grateful. 

K: (weakly) Thanks.

A: (sincerely) No problem. Should I call a doctor?

K: No, but would you call Jerry Jax for me?

A: Sure.

Katherine gives her the phone number then, slowly makes her way back to 
boardroom. As she enters, everyone notices how sick she is. Before she can make 
it to her chair, she faints. Stefan rushes to her side.