Fighter for Hire (COMPLETE!)

C’mon, did you really think I’d end it like that? If it had ended like that, I wouldn’t be here today writing this. That last chapter sent chills up my spine, writing and reliving that memory. Thank you Klaus, I owe you everything, RIP.


Chapter 10: Revival
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Nate’s POV


“Nate” I heard a soft whisper of a voice calling me. It sounded like an angel’s voice but, wait a second? I’m supposed to be going to hell after what I did.

“Nate” the same voice coming through a little louder and more clear. It sounded so familiar, much like…. ‘It can’t be!’ My eyes cracked open, still hazy, only to see the most beautiful pair of blue eyes staring at me.

“Kate?” I squeaked out. “What am I doing in heaven? Or what are you doing in hell?”

“Good to see you’re awake” She said with a kind smile. Next thing I knew was I had just been slapped with all the fury that hell could unleash. “YOU STUPID FUCKING MORON! WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT YOU DIPSHIT?!?”

‘Son of a bitch that hurt. Wait a minute? That hurt? Does that mean?’ I was so confused and my face hurt like hell. I never knew she could pack that kind of a punch.

“I replaced the syringe. I didn’t think you ever would but I had to make sure.” A deep booming voice came from the door, a large figure standing in the threshold.

“Em? But I saw…You were…and Liz?” I stammered, baffled at what I was seeing.

“Hi Nate” Liz beamed

“But you guys…..and you kate….the note….WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?”

Em just burst out into a laughing fit, Kate and Liz joining in with him.

“I’m so glad you all think this is soooo funny but will someone please tell me what is going on?” I spat out with just a hint of malice in my voice. I suddenly felt my stomach turn and I bolted to the bathroom and threw up violently.

“That’s the remnants of the tranquilizer. It’ll pass quick” Em said as he stepped in behind me and helped me to my feet. “Come little brother, sit. You have a lot to hear.”

“I’ll say” my voice was weak and horse. Em sat me on the couch, Liz sitting next to him and Kate curled up against me.

“God Kate, I missed you so much. I thought you were dead and you totally shouldn’t have hit me like that!”

She giggled at first and then turned serious, “You shouldn’t have tried to kill yourself. Asshole.”

Em cleared his throat to get my attention. “Well here goes. We faked our death, tipped off a paramedic, you remember Joe right?”

I just shook my head, not really sure of anything at the moment. I was still dazed and overwhelmed by the sight before me.

“Anyway,” He began again, “Joe owed me a favor. I heard the TKE boys were planning to kill the two of us, then Kate, then you. I saw the vision in a dream, so we set up the whole thing to beat them to the punch.”

I gave him a very confused look and he continued, “You’re not the only with a special gift Nate. You can anticipate people’s thought and moves, I’m clairvoyant. They had firearms on them that night and we knew what was coming next. I tipped of Joe, he loaded splatter rounds to make it look like we had been shot, so when the TKE boys got there, they thought they were to late.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, my blood almost boiling. “Why would you put me through this Em?” I said with my voice starting to rise at the end.

“Because little brother, it brought you and Kate together. You never would have opened up otherwise. And more importantly, you never would have killed the two of them otherwise. They would have come after all of us and finished the job off.” He spoke and such an even tone it boggled my mind. “And if we acted first, you and I would be sitting in a jail cell. But in the cage, you’re not liable. I know this was a mountain to throw at you but it had to be done Nate.”

I stood up and walked over to Em. “I understand, but I’m sorry” I said as I lunged in and nailed him with everything I had. He rolled off the couch and onto the floor with a loud thud. I just stood over him like an animal possessed, waiting for him to get up to hit him again. Kate walked in front of me and put her arms on my chest to calm me down.

“That’s enough, Nate. No more” she whispered calmly into my ear.

I heard Em cough as he moved up onto all fours before propping himself up and rising back to his feet. “I totally deserved that” He coughed out, “but my God have you gotten stronger.”

“I don’t know if I can forgive you for this Em. But to tell you the honest truth, we all know I can and will. I’m just so glad you guys are alive. I honestly felt life was no longer worth living with all of you gone.” I fell back on the couch, sobbing quietly.

“It’s ok Nate. I’m here, we’re here, and I love you. I promise we’re going to go away somewhere together, and forget all of this.” Kate put her arms around me and pulled me into a loving albeit passionate kiss.

“Awww how cute” I heard Em laughing but before I could snap at him, Kate did the honors.

“Em, I love you, but SHUT THE FUCK UP! You’ve just put him through a living hell you asshole. I know you did it to protect us all but you’ve just put Nate in the absolute worst position anyone could ever wind up in.”

“I already said I was sorry and I gladly took Nate’s best right off my face. I know that’s definitely not enough but I do have another way of making it up to him and to you.”

I looked up at Em and he tossed me a pair of keys.

“The GT? You’re giving me your one of a kind Accufab twin turbo GT?” I stuttered in disbelief.

“That’s not the half of it.” He said as he handed me a binder. “You’re going to Canada. You’ve been enrolled in McMaster as a pre-med student, fully paid for, and I’ve bought the two of you a house right off campus.”

Kate’s jaw dropped, as did mine.

She managed to somehow put together a coherent sentence, “How did you do all of this?”

He flashed a brilliant smile, “Let’s just say that the prize money you earned covered half and I knew fell well what this experience would do to you if you stayed. So I pulled a few strings and found out our mother had left about 5% of the family fortune to us.”

I almost exploded when I heard this. “That’s like” I started putting together numbers in my head before I went bug-eyed. “HOLY SHIT! That’s like 200 million or more.”

Kate just stared at me wide eyed. Completely at a loss for words. I practically was as well. Em just looked and said to me, “I owe it too you. Without question and even all of that isn’t enough. I’ll ship the Saab out to you, Kate can have it, you keep the GT. Enjoy the house, and enjoy you life together. Now get out of here, I’ll call you in a few days when you get there. Here are your passports, the car is outside and running.”

I just walked over and feigned to crack Emelious again, square in the face. He flinched but I just flung myself into his arms.

“Ok, I love you too. Now c’mon, get out of this wretched place. Kate, take care of this knuckle head will ya?”

I just turned and she winked at him, before grabbing my arm and pulling me out the door. We went downstairs and after helping her into the car, I looked up to see Em and Liz on the fire escape. I waved to Liz, flipped off Em with a smile, and he returned the gesture. With that I got into the car, gave Kate a passionate kiss before throwing it into first gear and taking off.

“I expect and big engagement ring buddy” Kate smirked and nudge me in the ribs.

I just rolled my eyes and smiled as we headed for the Canada border. All was as it should be, and it was just the two of us, alone together.