ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Knyte's Refrain
(Knyte's Song Sequel)

by Mikala D'Amour

© 2002, September

DISCLAIMERS

Standard Disclaimer: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, etc. are owned by MCA/Universal and no copyright infringement is intended.  The characters in this story belong solely to me though.

Uber: This story is Uber-esque and any likeness to certain characters of Xena follows standard uber story lines.

Violence Warning: This story depicts scenes of violence and their aftermath

Language Warning:  Yes, some, but not much.

Subtext: This story depicts sexual relations between two women who are in love. If that offends you there are plenty of other stories you might want to read. If you are under 18 or it is illegal where you live, look elsewhere.  If the idea of two women in love and acting on said love offends you… Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.  If not, please enjoy my musings….

CHARACTERS

Joana Skylar Knyte = Xena

Emily Danielle Arbor = Gabrielle

Erin Michaels = Ephiny

Krystal Anark = Kestra

Sarah Hawk = Solari

Erika Rozwel = Eponin

Colleen Caliss = Callisto

Song/Music:  “The Rose”, by Bette Midler is copyrighted and no infringement is intended.  © .  “I Am Whole”  is the sole property of Iwalani M. Alama ©.

STORY

Part 2
            

            Loud banging resounded in the small apartment.  Peering through the peephole, Erin pulled the door open, in flew a very agitated Joana Knyte followed close behind by Jocelyn Regent.  Jo ran as fast as she could into the living room.  Emily turned to see what the commotion was and ran into Jo’s waiting arms.

            Jo held her as close as possible and let her love cry.  Her heart broke at the sight of her young love so upset.  Leading the both of them over to the sofa, she sat down with Emily curled in her lap.  “What happened?”  She asked as Jocelyn joined them on the sofa.  Sarah handed Jo the envelope and note.  Jo took one look at it and handed it to Jocelyn.  Rising, she moved to the window and lost herself in thought.

            ‘Not again.  I have to stop her before this goes too far.  I will not lose again.’  Her mind wandered back to Chris.  The fear she had known then returned ten fold.  Looking out across the city, she made a decision.  ‘Whatever it takes, I’m going to win this one.  I’ll find her and make her pay for hurting the woman I love.’  Joce rose and went to her friend.

            “Hey, you okay?”  She inquired.

            “Yeah, We’re gonna go home.  I need to think and we need to rest and be alone.”  Jo went over to her young love and together they left the apartment.  All of their friends watched as the two drove off, each wondering what was coming next. 

            Jo and Emily decided they needed some space and went to her winter home for the week’s remainder. 

***********

            Monday came too early for Jo’s liking, but she knew she had to go back.  Emily had gone to visit her family for a few days to relax.  Now sitting in her office, Jo began her plan to bring her nemesis down and rid her life of her once and for all.  Picking up the phone, she dialed and waited for an answer.

            “North Ridge Police Department, how may I direct your call?”  Came a male voice.

            “Yes, my name is Joana Knyte and I would like to speak with Detective DeLitto.”  She requested.

            “One moment.”  One moment turned quickly into a couple of minutes.

            “Detective DeLitto, how can I help you Ms. Knyte?"  Came a pleasant voice.

            “Detective, thank you for speaking with me.  I was wondering, if you had a moment free, if we could meet.  I have a proposition for you.” 

            “I don’t usually see people for no particular reason, but my friend said this was important, so how about this afternoon?” 

            “That would be wonderful.  How does four sound?”  Jo questioned.

            “Perfect, see you then.”  The call ended and Jo returned to her previous task.  There had to be some way of catching this slippery bitch, but how.  The question puzzled her as she sat at her desk.  She had thought of, what seemed to her, everything imaginable.  The phone rang interrupting her thoughts.

            “Hello.”

            “Hey bitch.”

            “What the hell are you doing?  What do you want?”  Jo practically screamed into the phone.  She hit the record button the phone. 

            “What do I want?!?  I want my woman.  Back off bitch, she is mine.”  The woman yelled.

            “She doesn’t want you.  Just leave us alone.”

            “No can do.  I suggest you back off or next time, they wont be able to put ‘Humpty Dumpty’ back together again.” 

“I’m warning you stay away from her and me.  Shut up Colleen…” Jo said between clenched teeth.

“She’s mine.   Morning is coming and so is the end of Knyte.”  Cole interrupted and then hung up.  Jo just sat there, trying to compose herself.  What was with this bitch and why wouldn’t she just go away.  After a few minutes, she called Joce and told her to come over.

Jocelyn arrived at about 3:30.  “Hey bud.  What’s up?”  Jo played back the conversation for Jocelyn.  “She is really messed up.  She needs help.”  She stated.  Jocelyn had compiled all the notes and photos that Colleen had sent to Emily.  Jo told her about the meeting with the detective.  Jocelyn and Jo talked about Emily and discussed what to do to pass the time.

*knock *knock

            Jocelyn rose and answered the door.  Joce looked at the woman with obvious appreciation.  The woman stood about 5’6”, slender, but well built, and had short dusty blond hair.  She displayed her badge for Jocelyn to see.  Jocelyn looked from badge to woman and nearly swooned.  She found herself drawn into blue-hazel eyes, almost a silvery blue.  “Uh, please come in detective.”  She stuttered. 

            “Thank you, Ms. …?”  Detective DeLitto paused.

            “Regent, Jocelyn. But please call me Joce.”  She replied with a smile.  ‘Oh great, this is not the time for my loneliness to rear its head.’  Shaking her head she closed the door and joined the others.

            “Ah, Detective DeLitto, please have a seat.  May I get you something to drink?”  Jo offered to the shorter woman. 

            “Pepsi would be fine, thank you.”  Jo got the requested water and sat down at her desk. 

            “Well, I’m not sure what you’ve been told about my situation detective, so I’m not really sure where to start.”  Jo began.

            “Well, let’s see.  I understand that your current partner’s ex has been harassing the both of you.  Details I don’t know, but a general gist.”  Detective DeLitto stated.

            “Yes, my partner’s ex has been a nuisance, but it is turning into more.”  Jo paused for a moment to think.  “I’m sure you read about my ‘accident’ about seven months ago.  Well, we have reason to believe it was her ex’s doing.  Also, we have received phone calls and threatening letters from this woman.  Her name is Colleen.  I’m not sure of her last name, but my partner would probably know it.  She goes by Cole.”  Jo turned to Jocelyn for her to continue.  “Joce, hey you here?”  Jo smirked as she watched her friend staring at the detective.

            “Huh, oh yes. Sorry, just thinking.”  Jocelyn blushed slightly realizing, by the smirk on Jo’s face, that she had been caught.  Giving her friend a glare, she turned to the detective.  “I don’t really know much about her either, but I have been witness to nearly all that has happened.”

            Detective DeLitto nodded her head as she wrote some notes.  “Ms. Knyte, …” 

            “Joana, or Jo, please.”  Jo interrupted.

            “Jo, okay.  Well, Jo I can help you.  I am going to need to talk to others to find out more about this woman.  Can you arrange for your partner to meet with me; also any friends.  I have to have a name and a face in order to begin further investigation into her background.” 

            “I can do that.  Why don’t you come by this weekend?  We are having a get-together at the house.  You can talk to Emily and our friends.”  Jo suggested.

            “That would be perfect.  I will see you then.  What time and I need your address?”  Jo wrote down the address and handed it to her.  After thanking her for coming she said goodbye.  Jocelyn stood and walked the detective out.

            Reaching out to shake her hand, Jocelyn felt the jolt run through her as their hands touched.  Detective DeLitto smiled, she had felt it too.  “It was a pleasure meeting you Joce.  Take care.”  With those few words, she left a stunned Jocelyn Regent staring at her retreating form.

            Jo watched with interest as her friend stared after the detective.  ‘Well, it seems that love is in the air.’  She smiled.  Jocelyn returned to the desk and she and Jo began to call everyone.  They had a get-together to plan and a screwed up bitch to catch. 

************

            A lone woman sat at the table just watching the passers-by.  She was watching, but her mind was focused on one thought.  The waitress approached and asked her if she was ready to order.  All she ordered was a beer and then returned to watching.  Turning back to the table, she reached into her case and withdrew a folder.  Opening the folder she began to read.

            She was rapidly losing her patience and looked around again.  The waitress returned with the beer and asked her if there would be anything else.  She was a petite and fairly attractive woman and was obviously flirting with the woman.  The woman said no and the waitress walked away.  A short time passed and another figure joined the woman.

            “You took long enough.  I hate waiting.” 

            “Whatever.  I came didn’t I?”  The woman replied.  The two stared at each other for a moment.

            “You know why I called you?  How much it gonna cost me, Sam?”  The woman inquired.

            “Depends, what you want?”  Sam countered.  The other woman reached into the case and passed an envelop to Sam.  She opened it and smiled.  “Why?”  She inquired.

            “Immediately for personal reasons.”

            “Tell me.”  Sam pushed.

            “She took my girl.”

            “How?”

            “Painfully, slowly.  Make her suffer for taking what’s mine.” 

            “You’re asking a lot you know.  This will be difficult.”  Sam explained.

            “You’re the best, but if you can’t handle it…”

            “I didn’t say that.  $50,000.  I want half up front.”  Sam whispered.

            “Fine.  I’ll have the money tomorrow.  Come to this room.”  The woman replied as she handed Sam a piece of paper.

            “See ya Cole, nice doing business.”  Sam said as she walked away.  Cole grabbed her beer and leaned back.  She watched as Sam walked away and smiled to herself. 

            ‘Soon, my love.  Soon…’ 

***********

            “Baby, can you bring me the steaks?”  Jo called out from her place behind the grill.  Emily smiled at her lover as she walked over to her carrying said steaks.  Jo smiled back and leaned down to steal a kiss.  Taking the steaks, she put them on the table.  Taking a swig of beer, she proceeded to season them.  Emily stayed close holding onto her waist.

            “Hey, watch it!”  Jocelyn cried as she dove out of the ball’s path.  The other women burst out laughing.  Erin composed herself and walked over to offer a hand up.  “Gee, thanks.”  Joce sarcastically replied taking the proffered hand.  Erin, Erika, and Sarah had managed to get her to play volleyball, much to her chagrin.  Every moment that passed, she prayed for some sort of savior from her predicament.

            Jo and Emily laughed at their friend’s situation, but offered no assistance.  Emily reluctantly left the group to go gather more things from the kitchen.  Upon entering the house, she heard the doorbell.  She went to see who it was.  Peering through the peephole, she saw a woman.  From Joce’s description she guessed it was the detective.  Stepping back, she opened the door.

            “Uh, hi you must be Emily.”  The woman said.

            “Yes, and you must be Detective DeLitto.  Please come in.”  She motioned her guest through the house and into the backyard.  “Hey honey, look what I found.”  Emily shouted to her lover.  Jo turned and waved her lover and their new guest over. 

            “Hey, glad you could make it.  This is a bar-b-q.  Not just business, but good times.”  Jo chuckled as she heard yet another colorful outcry from Joce. 

            “Well, if I am here as a guest as well, then please call me Liza.  I think I will go introduce myself, will you excuse me?”  She asked.  Jo nodded and turned back to her cooking.  Emily returned to the house to gather the rest of the food.  Liza walked over toward the four women playing volleyball, all the while watching one in particular.

            The object of her attention turned to see her approach and smiled.  Joce’s attention being distracted, she failed to notice the ball sailing directly toward her.  The last thing she saw was Liza smiling back at her then all went black.  Liza ran over to her to see if she was okay.  Seeing Jocelyn hurt caused her stomach to twist.  Bending down, she brushed her fingers over the fallen woman’s brow.  “Come on, open those beautiful brown eyes for me.”  She whispered.

            Brown eyes slowly opened and blinked to focus themselves.  Jocelyn smiled.  There before her were those gray-blue eyes she had fallen into a few days earlier.  The words whispered in her ear had caught her attention.  Liza helped her up and slid her arm around her waist to offer support.  Together they went to sit in the nearby chairs.  “Thanks.” She spoke a little raspy.

            “You’re welcome.  I’m just glad you’re okay.  How are you feeling?”  Liza inquired.

            “I’m okay, just got my bell rung.”  Joce chuckled. 

            “Hey goof, your not supposed to use your head in volleyball.”  Erika gently teased her friend.  Jo had come over to check on her and, after making sure she was okay, returned to cooking. 

            The group sat and ate.  Their conversation went from discussing the latest beauty in Hollywood to the modern criminal justice system.  All the while, Jo kept watching the more-than-friendly interaction between Joce and Liza.  ‘It’s about time.  She deserves happiness.’  She smiled at the thought and turned to look at her young love.  A single tear slid down her cheek as she gazed.

            Emily turned to her lover and wiped the tear away.  Smiling she leant forward and gave her lover a gentle kiss.  The kiss broke and Jo pulled her lover into her arms and held her tight.  “I love you.”  She whispered.  Emily returned the phrase and snuggled deeper into the embrace.  The two turned to look at their guests.  Erin was peacefully napping in her chair.  Sarah and Erika were snuggled close and kissing.  Liza and Joce were deep in conversation.

            “Well, I have had a wonderful time today.”  Liza began as she turned to the group.  “Unfortunately, I have business to take care of.  If I could speak with each of you separately, I could move my investigation along.  I am truly sorry to interrupt this wonderful day with this.” 

            “That’s okay, this is important.”  Jo spoke.  “You can use my home office for the interviews.”  She offered.  Erika volunteered to go first.  After extricating herself from Sarah, she led Liza into the house.

Part 3

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