Author: Kerimack
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Cruel Intentions, I just borrow and manipulate them.
Rating: R
Summary: Following the accident Sebastian awakes with no memory of the past two years. Annette and Kathryn are both there to help him remember but it seems everyone has their own agenda, including Sebastian. Please R&R!
Authors Note: Originally this was going to be a short fluffy fic but I decided to change some things around.
Chapter 1: The Accident
"Sebastian!" Annette Hardgrove screamed after seeing the love of her life smash against the window shield of the on coming cab and then fall to the ground in a lifeless heap. She was in such a state of shock over what she just witnessed she couldn't move, couldn't scream. All she could do was stare at Sebastian's still body laying crumpled on the pavement.
Eventually the sound of beeping horns and loud pedestrians woke her from her shock and she jolted up and over to him. Annette's first thought when she saw him was, he's ok. His beautiful blue eyes were open just barely but she could tell he was breathing. Then as she leaned in closer she saw it, a tear running down his face. He was in pain, he wasn't going to be ok.
"Annette" he whispered reaching a shaky hand towards her. "I-I'm sorry Annette."
Seeing him in such agony Annette herself began to cry. She took his hand in hers and whispered back "it's ok, I forgive you."
She really, truly did. Everything he had done to her, the lies, the bet, the manipulations seemed a hundred miles away now. Annette didn't care about what brought them together, just as long as they could stay together.
"I love you Annette" Sebastian confessed his voice breaking with each word.
Caressing his face she smiled weekly "I love you too. You're going to be ok Sebastian, I promise."
Looking up she noticed they were far from alone. The young African American man she had seen Sebastian fighting with was kneeling down beside them, a mask of worry covered his handsome face. Annette wondered briefly why they had been fighting and why in the middle of the street. However her questions could wait. The only thing that mattered now was Sebastians safety. "We need to call for an ambulance."
"It's on it's way" he assured her. Shaking his head he muttered "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Sebastian who was fighting to stay conscience looked over at him "R-Ronald I need to tell you...it wasn't what you think. I...she..set.." Before he could get the sentence out his eyes fluttered shut and he passed out.
"Sebastian! Sebastian please stay awake" Annette pleaded with him suddenly frantic. "You're going to be all right, the ambulance is almost here just please hold on."
Just then the loud sound of an ambulance wail could be heard coming towards them. "It's here baby, it's here" she told him gripping his hand tightly. "Oh god Sebastian please wake up!"
Annette was crying now but she quickly realized she had to get a hold on herself. There would be time for tears later, right now she had to be strong for Sebastian. Wiping her face she looked up as the paramedic team jumped out of the ambulance and rushed towards them. "How long has he been unconscience?"
Moving aside so they'd have room to work she told them "a few minutes maybe. He's still breathing, is he going to be..."
"It looks like he might have internal injuries. We better get him in."
"Ok" Annette got to her feet but continued to clutch Sebastians hand when he was placed on the stretcher. "I want to go with him."
When the paramedic nodded in approval she started to get in when she felt a hand on her arm. She turned around and saw Ronald give her a solemn but reassuring look "he's going to be ok."
"I hope so" she nodded.
As she got into the ambulance she tried to place where she had heard the name Ronald before. It was familiar but her mind was too clouded to think of such things at the moment. However just before they pulled into the hospital Annette remembered why it was familiar and where she had heard it before: in Sebastians journal. It was then she started to realize just who was truly responsible for the accident.
* * * * * *
As Kathryn Merteuil awoke that morning she stretched her body and let out a content yawn. She looked over towards the clock and saw it was only nine thirty. After considering whether to go back to sleep she decided against it and sat up instead. Kathryn was exhausted from the previous nights activities but she was too excited to see what the outcome would be on her latest plan.
It had all been so easy. Calling up Ronald in that weepy voice and begging him to come over. Luring him away from that fuck wit Cecile with a story about how Sebastian had hit her. It was of course all lies but poor trusting Ronald bought every word that came out of her mouth. He especially was willing to believe it after Kathryn told him about the affair his girlfriend was having behind his back. She nearly giggled in delight over the look that appeared on his face as he realized: so that's why Cecile seemed so experienced. After that Ronald was biting at the bit to get his hands on Sebastian. He vowed to give him a beating he wouldn't soon forget.
From Kathryn's point of view her step brother more than deserved it. For years the two of them had shared a special, albeit twisted bond. They were the only one's who understood each other and Kathryn had assumed nobody would ever come between them.
She had been dead wrong about that.
Enter Annette Hardgrove, a blond, bible thumping virgin from the Midwest. Never in a million years did Kathryn think she would be cast aside for such a girl but she had been. Sebastian had fallen head over ass for the stupid bitch and tossed his relationship with Kathryn away as if it was nothing. It had hurt her more than she would ever admit to anyone, least of all herself, to see her only true friend fall for someone so unworthy. She had tried to get him away from her, hell she even offered herself to him but he turned her down flat.
Well fuck him, she decided. He could have Miss. Seventeen magazine but there was no way in hell she would let them be happy. Destroying their so called relationship had been easy. All Kathryn had to do was fill Sebastian's head with a few doubts and insecurities and he dumped the so called love of his life. Then the son of a bitch had the nerve to show up and demand she go through with their bet. There was no way she would climb into bed with him after the way he turned her down. Plus she had the sinking feeling he would be thinking of Annette the whole time anyway.
Kathryn had been so furious she had ripped into Sebastian with a viciousness that surprised even her. However she didn't feel the tiniest bit of guilt over it. Sebastian was a loser, he became one as soon as he handed his balls over to the headmasters daughter. No longer was he the same guy who plotted and schemed with her, so really why should she care if she hurt his feelings. Fuck him.
Of course he had gone crawling back to little miss muffet. Kathryn had listened at Sebastians door as he pleaded to speak with her. So incredibly pathetic. She knew then she had to squash him before he got any ideas about paying her back. Plus maybe a good ass kicking would help him remember who he truly was.
Kathryn knew right away Ronald was the perfect puppet to use. He wasn't as innocent as Cecile but he was still naive enough to expect that people were generally good. After feeding him the sob story about how Sebastian hit her Kathryn broke down in tears and asked him to stay the night. Of course he had agreed and about half way through the night she decided to seduce the loser as an extra bonus.
Surprisingly he had resisted her at first, telling her he loved Cecile. But as soon as she slipped out of her nightgown and crawled into his lap he was all but putty in her hands. The sex had been decent but she hadn't done it to get off. It was more a power thing, to prove to herself that she could get him.
Early that morning Ronald had awoken saying he couldn't wait any longer for Sebastian to get home, he was going to find him now. Kathryn had of course pretended to talk him out of it but good old Ronald was determined to fight for her honor along with Ceciles. He left her promising to call her after everything was done.
Well it was now a couple hours later and there was no messages on her voice mail so she was left wondering what exactly happened. It had occurred to her that Sebastian might talk him out of it, tell him the truth about her. However she was confident that Ronald would believe her word over his.
Getting up from her bed Kathryn was on her way to find a maid who would bring her breakfast when the phone rang. Smiling Kathryn picked it up "hello?"
"Kathryn, it's Ronald"
Immediately her smile widened "Ronald? Where are you, I've been waiting all morning for your call. I've been so worried."
"I'm ok, um...I'm at the hospital."
"Hospital?" He must have gave Sebastian one hell of a beating Kathryn thought happily.
"Yeah there was an accident...Sebastian was hit by a car." For the first time in a long time Kathryn was stunned. She didn't see that one coming and wasn't really sure what Ronald was talking about. "Hello? Kathryn are you there?"
"Yeah I'm here. What happened Ronald? How did this-"
"We were fighting...by the street, in the street I don't know. This girl, Annette tried to stop us and got knocked out. Then this car came out of nowhere and Sebastian pushed her out of the way but he got hit. He's in surgery now but Kathryn...it looks really bad."
"I'm on my way now Ronald" she said before hanging up the phone. As she did her mind tried to process what he just told her. Sebastian was hit by a car saving Annette. He almost died because of her.
A small voice inside Kathryn reminded her that she was just as guilty. He wouldn't have been fighting in the street if it wasn't for her. Still she pushed the thought aside, this was no time to grow a conscience. Sebastian would be fine, he had to be.
Kathryn got up and started to get dressed. As she did she kept thinking back to the past summer, all the misdeeds she had done, and her hands began to shake. She could feel herself starting to loose control and she wouldn't allow that.
After she finished dressing she walked back over to her bed and grabbed the crucifix necklace sitting beside it. Unscrewing the bottom she lifted the coke spoon to her nose and inhaled sharply. Kathryn needed to focus and feel in control and this was the only way to do it.
Two bumps and then she was out the door and into the back of a limo. The driver seemed surprised to see her up so early on a Saturday but she could care less. When they arrived Kathryn went immediately to the ER and headed towards the nurses station. However just as she was two feet away from in Annette suddenly appeared and stepped right in her way, looking tired and very angry. Kathryn was surprised to see her so soon and looking so pissed. Planting a hesitant smile on her face she greeted her "hi, you must be Annette I'm-"
Before she could finish she was greeted by a hard smack across the face. Stunned to say the least Kathryn looked back at her in surprise. "You god damn bitch" Annette hissed stepped closer to her. "Are you happy now? You nearly destroyed him, is that what you wanted?"
Touching her reddening cheek Kathryn asked "excuse me? You don't even know me-"
"I know everything Kathryn. The games, the manipulations, the drugs. I know the real you, Sebastian told me all about you. Everything."
A shiver of fear ran through Kathryn. He wouldn't, there's no way Sebastian would tell all her secrets to this twit. Than again...
"What are you talking about?"
"Sebastian gave me his journal. He told me all about the bet and Cecile Caldwell." Shaking her head in disgust she went on "you are the reason he's in there fighting for his life. You couldn't stand the fact that he loved me and not you so you had to destroy him."
"You have no idea what you're talking about and if I were you I'd keep your mouth shut" Kathryn whispered menacingly. "It doesn't pay to piss me off, just ask Sebastian."
"You monster!" Annette screamed before lunging at her in pure fury.
Normally Kathryn would hit her back but just as Annette went at her again Kathryn saw Ronald turning the corner. When he spotted the two of them he ran up to them and pulled them apart. Immediately Kathryn went into her good girl act by producing a few tears. "I'm sorry Annette but I'm upset too! Sebastian is my step brother, you have no idea what this is doing to me."
"Liar! You don't care about Sebastian or anybody else. All you care about is yourself!"
"That's enough!" Ronald interrupted her. "Annette I know you're worried about Sebastian but attacking Kathryn won't solve anything. She's just as scared."
Annette shook her head at him sadly "oh Ronald you have no idea who she really is."
"She's my friend and I won't have you treating her like that."
For a moment Kathryn thought Annette might tell him everything she knew but instead she just sighed "fine don't say I didn't warn you."
When she left Ronald turned back to Kathryn who was weeping. Oddly enough she didn't have to fake it that much. Although she had defeated Annette for the time being she wasn't feeling exactly celebratory. "Hey are you ok?" He asked pulling her into a hug "what was that all about?"
"I-I don't know. I barely know the girl and she starts attacking me, blaming me for the accident."
"That's ridiculous."
"Not really" Kathryn whispered as she sat down.
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you about Sebastian hitting me and about Cecile. If you two hadn't been fighting..."
"Hey I'm just as much to blame. I wanted to kill him for what he did but-"
"But what?"
Ronald studied her a moment before confessing "well Sebastian, he pretty much admitted he slept with Cecile but he told me he didn't hit you. He said you were lying and playing some sort of game."
It figures Kathryn thought to herself. Realizing she had to convince Ronald otherwise Kathryn once again started to cry "I knew you wouldn't believe me. No one will take my word against his!"
"Kathryn if it's true of course I'll believe you."
"Ronald" she said looking up at him with all the innocence she could muster "why would I lie? What could I possibly gain? Sebastian did hit me."
He put a comforting arm around her "ok I believe you Kathryn."
"Thank you, but the thing is Ronald, I don't think we should tell anyone about it."
"Why not?"
"Well if Sebastian recovers, when Sebastian recovers" she corrected herself. "I want to put it behind us. After all Sebastian is my step brother and I do love him, there's no sense in making things worse for him is there? I mean getting hit by a car is punishment enough right?"
The reality of the situation was Kathryn didn't want the accident traced back to her. Obviously she didn't do anything legally wrong, all she did was tell a little white lie, but she worked too damn hard for her reputation to have it damaged by this. Ronald seemed to buy her excuse as he smiled and told her "you're a really good person you know that? I admire you Kathryn."
"You shouldn't, I just hope Sebastian is ok"
Ronald nodded "he will be. I'm going to get a cup of coffee, do you want anything?"
"No thank you. I think I'm going to see how he's doing."
He gave her a kiss on the head before getting up and heading down the hall. Wiping her face Kathryn sighed as she headed down to the ER. The nurse told her Sebastian was out of surgery and the doctor would talk to her in a little while about his condition. She approached his room but was stopped by a nurse "only one visitor at a time ma'am. The young man's girlfriend is in there now."
"Well I'm his sister" she told her curtly.
"I'm sorry she was here first. You'll have to wait your turn."
The nurse went into the room and raised the shade. Kathryn looked in and saw Sebastian laying motionless in the bed. He was hooked up to many machines and there was several scrapes on his face. Seeing the only person in the world who ever mattered to her look so weak and defenseless turned her stomach. Even more so since she knew she was partly responsible.
A single, very real tear ran down Kathryn's face as she watched him. God what had she done?
Annette was sitting beside him, holding his hand and muttering something to him. In that moment Kathryn never hated anyone more. That should be her sitting beside him. She shouldn't be the one on the outside looking in. Wiping her tear away Kathryn glared hard at Annette. She was going to pay dearly for taking Sebastian away from her.
* * * * * *
"He had severe internal injuries but we were able to stop the bleeding" Dr. Prescott told Annette the day following the accident.
"Then why isn't he waking up?"
Looking down at his patient he revealed "it appears he's fallen into a coma. He could wake up today or six years from now. We have no way of knowing."
"But..isn't there something you can do for him?"
"We'll just have to wait and see. I'm sorry" he replied before leaving them alone.
Holding back her tears Annette sat back down beside Sebastian. She had stayed up all night, guarding him. Annette didn't trust Kathryn alone with him, knowing what she did about her, Kathryn would pull his plug just for a laugh. However she wasn't worried about her right now. Kathryn would get her comeuppance eventually.
Sliding her hand into Sebastian's Annette began to speak to him. "I know you can here me Sebastian, you have to wake up. You have to come back to me. I love you so much, more than anything in the world. We barely had any time together, it's not fair."
She realized she was crying but she didn't care. "Oh god Sebastian please, wake up. I need you, please" her sobs began to take control of her body. Annette rested her head against the bed as she cried and told god she would do anything, give up anything if he just woke up.
Then it happened. Just as her tears were starting to run out she felt someone grasp her hand. Sitting up suddenly Annette watched as his fingers tightened around hers. "Oh my god" she whispered. "Sebastian! Sebastian it's me, open your eyes."
Annette's heart sped up as Sebastian's eyes started to flutter open. It took him awhile to focus his beautiful blue eyes and as he did he looked around the room a little confused. However all Annette could do was smile as she wiped her tears away "Sebastian, I knew you'd come back to me."
He glanced over at her still looking perplexed. Finally his hand grabbed for the oxygen mask that was over his face. As he pulled it off Sebastian took several large breaths before turning to Annette and asking "who are you?"
- to be continued (Please Review)