New Horizons (4/10)

[dipenates]

Title: New Horizons
Fandom: Brothers and Sisters
Rating:  R
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Length: ~15,000
Characters:  Justin, Kitty, Kevin, Sarah, Nora, and Tommy
Icon: danielle_nahimi
Warning:  Contains references to sexual abuse and rape.
Summary: In which Justin leaves rehab, and the family struggles to deal as something disturbing comes to light.

 

Chapter Four

In which Kitty and Kevin have a frank exchange of views  

Kevin knocked on Kitty’s bedroom door, and swung it open. Kitty was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking at her unpainted nails; seemingly lost in thought. Kevin was struck by how tiny she was; how much she looked like a little girl perched on her mother’s bed.

Kevin cleared his throat. “Kitty, Mom wanted me to get a box of fabric from your wardrobe?”

“Sure," Kitty said, looking up. “No problem, it’s just in the top there.”

Kevin didn’t move. He was shaken by how lonely Kitty looked; how fragile.

“Don’t worry," Kitty said, rolling her eyes and standing up. “My wardrobe is completely clear of bras and tampons. And Republican ectoplasm.”

“That’s not it, Kitty.” Kevin sat down on her bed and motioned for her to join him. She sat down on the white coverlet.

Kevin paused, not really sure what he wanted to say. “I get that you are a wannabee Eagle Forum member, but it is truly essential for you to channel Ann Coulter when it’s just going to be a red rag to Sarah’s Gloria Steinem?” His tone was gentle.

Kitty scuffed her heel on the area rug that her bed sat on. “I just don’t understand why Sarah wants us all to be victims.” She paused. “I have a great job, a great relationship, a great family. I achieved things by myself. I don’t need Sarah telling me that I’m being oppressed by some patriarchal monster.”

Kevin laughed, relieved. “Kitty, Sarah’s not talking about you. She’s talking about other women who have had bad stuff happen to them.”

Guilty in anticipation of repeating something Tommy probably didn’t want him to share, Kevin lowered his voice.

“Tommy was just telling me about this girl he saw in high school who was probably abused in some way and how she wouldn’t talk to Tommy and then that asshole Brent Wallace made fun of her and how probably Sarah’s take back the whatever might have helped her.”

“Brent Wallace?” Kitty’s face was frozen.

“Yeah, that uber-hetero on the football team; who had all those Playboy magazines taped up in his locker”, Kevin said. “Probably a total closet case.”

“He wasn’t,” said Kitty, her voice distant. “I had a really bad date with him, and can attest to his rampant heterosexuality.”

“A bad date?” said Kevin. Kitty looked away from him, biting her lip. Kevin felt his stomach start to tighten with fear.

“I met him at some homecoming event when I was 18. We had a few beers and a couple of drags on a joint his friends had. Maybe he thought I would be a bit more into sleeping with him because I was a grown up college woman and he was a high-school boy, but I really wasn’t. I tried to push him off me but he was stronger than I was, and had at least a hundred pounds on me.”

Kevin closed his eyes, trying to keep the wave of anger he felt from showing on his face. Kitty fiddled with the hem of her dress. She took a deep breath.

“I was really annoyed that weekend, because I had planned to wear this great silvery mini dress with spaghetti straps and I couldn’t because I had bruises on my legs.”

Her voice hitched. “That was a beautiful dress, and I never wore it.”

Kevin reached for Kitty, wrapping her in his arms. Kitty leaned her head against his blue cashmere sweater, eyes wide. Kevin stroked her back as though she were made of spun glass.

“Kitty, honey," Kevin said, in a tone of such exquisite gentleness that Kitty’s eyes started to fill. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

They sat in silence for a moment; Kevin searching for some words of comfort, mind reeling. “I’m really glad you were able to tell me, although I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t at the time. Still, I’m sure it was easier to discuss with Mom and Sarah and miracle-of-miracles they kept their yaps shut.”

Kitty jerked out of his arms.

“What do you mean, Kevin?” She brushed the tears away, and regarded Kevin crossly. “It was just a bad date; there’s no need to blow it out of all proportion. As it happens, I didn’t mention it to anyone.”

“Kit?” Kevin said gently. “Brent Wallace raped you.”

Kitty’s rage was immediate and terrifying. She jumped to her feet and pointed to the door.

“Get the fuck out of here, Kevin,” she hissed. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Kevin blanched. He got to his feet, and stretched his hand out towards Kitty's shaking body. She took a pace backwards.

“Kitty, I’m sorrier than you can imagine that you’re so upset, but it wasn’t just a bad date.”

“Just because you’re gay doesn’t give some special insight into being a woman, Kevin,” Kitty bit out his name, arms wrapped around herself. “I’m pretty sure that I can define my own life experiences, and for the last fucking time, I wasn’t fucking raped.”

(Part five)