RED SOX: Please, believe!

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Sammi clutched Connor's hand as the elevator doors slid shut. Her grip tightened as the car began its climb.

"You okay?" Connor whispered and she turned toward her lover.

Sammi shrugged. "Do you think they'll mind me being here? Saul said for you to come but nothing about me. I know Benjy and Joyce don't like me. Maybe I should have stayed in Malibu. You know, doing something useful like grooming Gina."

Connor snickered at the comment. "Nah, she's happier chained by her nose ring to the bedpost than having you giving her enema's all afternoon. By the way, did you at least leave her something motorized to play with herself while we're gone?"

"Better, I fastened her hands behind her back, put in a porn DVD, and called Luke to entertainer her. You know, maybe we should give her to Luke when we get back. She was fun and all but after a week she's getting monotonous. Besides," Sammi husked, "I want you all to myself for the rest of our honeymoon phase."

"Luke? Wait, back up," Connor was surprised by the casual mention of Sammi's soon to be ex husband. "You're still talking to Luke? Isn't he mad at us? Shouldn't he be mad at you or me or both of us or something?" Connor knew she was babbling and tried to rein it back. "You've charged him with a crime and are suing him for divorce. That's got to piss him off. Isn't he furious at you?"

"No, not at all. Why should he be? Connor, Luke's been in the upstairs apartment at Malibu since he made bail. He still gets his monthly allowance and use of the cars and the ski lodge at Aspen. I could see him being annoyed about only getting use of the ski lodge. Nobody important goes to Aspen anymore, really. But, I refuse to sacrifice my Sundance passes just to pacify his ego. Other than that, the only big difference now is he doesn't get to screw me once a month anymore."

Connor nearly choked, "Once a month? You only slept with your husband once a month. That's absolutely crazy. No wonder you're a total nymphomaniac with me."

Sammi pushed Connor up against the back of the elevator and planted a hungry kiss on her lips. It was deep and probing and had potential to lead to something much more. The ding of the elevator doors opening ended the potential and the moment.

"I'm only a nympho with you, Connor. You make me hot," Sammi husked as she pulled her lover out of the elevator. "You make me wet. You make me need to cum like a cat in heat."

Connor grinned. She felt very proud of herself watching Sammi confess her lust. Connor maneuvered Sammi against the wall and leaned in close. Sammi's hands found their favorite resting spots on Connor's ass cheeks.

Connor slipped her hand between Sammi's thighs and stroked the seam of her tight jeans.

"When we finish this stupid meeting, I'm dragging you into my bedroom and fisting your pussy. If you scream, I'll stuff my dirty underwear in you pie hole so you don't disturb Benjy's sensibilities," Connor promised as she squeezed Sammi's crotch.

Sammi arched into the grip, "Liar. You're not even wearing underpants. I can smell your cunt juices staining your leathers."

Connor straddled Sammi's thigh. She was so close it wouldn't take more than a hump or two to get her over the top. Wanting to draw it out more, she released her hold of Sammi's snatch.

"Oh, please," Sammi begged.

Connor shoved her hand into the front of Sammi's jeans. She entered her lover with two fingers. Matching her dry humps to finger thrust, Connor brought them both off quickly.

"Clean 'em," Connor ordered a heartbeat or two later when she pushed her dripping fingers into Sammi's anxious mouth.

Sammi lavished her attention on the digits.

"That's my good bitch," Connor praised her. "Finish up so we can get going. Otherwise, Saul's likely to come out here and find you on your knees sucking my rocks off."

Sammi groaned as she released Connor's fingers, "Keep talking like that and I'll be humping Joyce before the day is out."

The pair readjusted each other's clothes in silence prior to heading down the hallway hand in hand. Connor used her keycard pass to open the suite's door.

"You can stop talking about us 'cause we're here," Connor stated as she walked in with Sammi dragging behind her.

"We weren't…we never would…," Benjy babbled.

"Kidding, Benjy, I was kidding," Connor reassured her friend. "So, where's Saul and what's the drama?"

With a hiss, Joyce dropped the gossip magazine she was reading into her lap, "You know, you've been out running wild for umptynine days without word one of how you are and then you return and you don't even give Benjy or I a proper hello."

"Hello, Joyce," Connor stated evenly because she wanted to avoid an argument which could hold up her planned ravaging of Sammi's eager and seeping pussy.

"Hello Connor, it's good to see you. I've missed you," Joyce actually sounded sincere. "We both have."

Connor nodded but didn't trust herself to reply. She sat on the couch opposite Benjy and Sammi sat next to her. The pair kept a tight grip on each other's hand.

Benjy cleared his throat, "Saul will be here soon. This is just to make sure everything is flawless. He wants to go over the red carpet and stuff for the general release of DUMBSTRUCK."

"So, for the big day, everything's…you know, ready," Connor asked. She needed to know if the movie was finally done but didn't want to tip off Sammi to the situation with their groundbreaking scam.

"Why whatever do you mean, Connor?" Joyce asked with two parts sarcasm, one part innocence, and a sprinkle of whimsy.

"Joyce…," Benjy and Connor both warned her to silence herself with evil glares.

"What, Benjy?" Joyce tried to defend herself. "I simply don't understand what Connor's getting at. She's been off having a good old time for herself while we've been stuck faking…,"

"JOYCE!" Both Benjy and Connor jumped to their feet and shouted over the blabbermouth.

Joyce grinned, "You know, Connor, when you get all angry and tough like that I can see the S & M dominatrix in you. Or are you too butch to be a mistress of pain? Would you be a Master of suffering?"

"What?" Connor blinked.

"It says right here in black and white, 'Call her Dom!" Joyce patted the magazines in her lap. "Here's a direct quote, 'Newcomer bad girl Connor likes it rough but she holds the leash. And, it is poor Sammi Gregory groveling at the other end.' It goes on and on about how Sammi was blinded by her deep love for Connor that she ignored the seriousness of Connor's deviant demands until the Sammi was a total wreck; completely broken in mind and body. They say she's an unwilling sex slave. It seems you've gone and corrupted the innocent Ms. Gregory," Joyce shook her head. "I would have bet on the other way around, go figure."

"I was sure you were spying on us that night on the balcony. Cirque du Soleil, my ass," Connor growled. "Joyce, you're not only a perverted peeping Tom but a gossiping fat ass mother fucker as well!"

Joyce stood and dumped a pile of magazines on the table, "Read them, Connor! Every one of them has some horrible private detail about you and Sammi. Things I couldn't know. Even if I did, I would never share your private life with the press. You’re my friend…,"

"FUCK OFF, FRIEND! You're nothing but a lying bitch. I'm gonna kill you!" Connor lunged for Joyce and managed to wrap her fingers around Joyce's thick neck.

Sammi and Benjy jumped into the fray. Sammi desperately tried to pull Connor back. Benjy struggled to get between the pair so he could push Joyce away.

"Stop it, Connor. Stop it!" Benjy shouted before somebody pulled a fistful of his hair free. "OUCH!"

"Cry baby," Joyce hissed at him.

"Ass!" Benjy shot back.

"Connor, stop, please, stop. It wasn't Joyce. She didn't do it. It was me," Sammi shouted over the competing voices. "I told the gossip magazines about us. It was me."

All the noise and struggle abruptly ended. A stunned Connor released her strangle hold of Joyce and turned to look Sammi in the eye. Joyce moved in next to Connor and grabbed one of her arms. Benjy freed the other arm from Sammi and held on tight.

"You? You, you told them about us?" Connor questioned in disbelief. "You told them about our sex life?"

Sammi nodded yes.

"Why for fuck's sake?" Joyce screamed and started to move toward Sammi with balled fists.

Connor and Benjy shifted their focus to get a grip on the woman in motion.

Sammi shook her head, "We've got this movie coming out in June and we need a strong buzz. I, we need a hit; you know to follow up DUMBSTRUCK. Our female buddy picture is going to be a tough sell to a national release. However, if we have a scandal that is sexually exciting for guys then we can raise this movie from a noble chick flick endeavor to a mass appeal mega hit. Marketing like this comes along once in a career if you're very lucky. Somehow, for you three, it's twice in a career and you're just getting started. If KABOOM rakes up big numbers then we'll become instant box office gold and Hollywood royalty. There's no telling how long we can ride that wave."

"But we were…we said…you're my…," Connor couldn't make the words come out.

"Baby, I love you. I really do. We can still together. This isn't a problem at all. This is our foundation," Sammi tried to be reassuring but Joyce stepped between her and Connor. "Back off, Joyce. From what I can see you're nothing more than a trouble maker. You don't even like those two much anyway, do you?"

The trio laughed together at Sammi's remark.

"Boy, are you stupid? You freaks don't know shit out here in La La Land, do you sweetie?" Joyce asked in a mocking tone. "Do you think the three of us are here together because we can't stand each other? Wrong. We've been friends since fourth grade."

"Apparently, you haven't changed much since then," Sammi retorted. "Still the playground bully."

"Exactly," Joyce agreed. "And, Benjy was the foreign kid who got beat up by the jocks until I pantsed the ring leader, George Costa, at Christmas assemble. I told the rest of them worse would happen if they bothered my friend again. Then there was Connor; our brainy tomboy who got teased by all the extra pretty girls until I broke Marcia Clyde's nose with a single shove into the lockers. Nobody teased Connor after that. I may be an absolute bitch but I take care of my friends. I push them to do something instead of waiting around and sometimes I push the wrong way and criminal charges result." Joyce shrugged, "You know, like now."

Benjy and Connor never expected the punch. It floored Sammi. Blood erupted from her nose before her head finished snapping back. The room exploded in a wild scramble to tug Joyce off a stunned Sammi.

"WHAT IN HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Saul shouted as he slammed the door shut.

The melee ended and the four combatants separated immediately. Benjy grabbed some tissue and handed it to Sammi. Connor walked away from the group and headed for the door.

"Connor?" Saul asked in a quiet, paternal tone.

Connor sniffled back her tears, "I need to go out. Alone. I'm so confused. This isn't what I wanted. None of it. I'm so lost. Please let me leave. I need to get out."

Saul sighed, "Take my car and driver. Here, take my cell phone too. Only answer calls from this number. Let the rest go to voicemail. I want you back here in 24 hours. Got it?"

"Make sure Sammi's not anywhere near here."

"Deal," Saul answered.

Sammi heard the agreement and was on her feet, "No, Connor, wait. We need to talk this over. Wait."

A slamming door was her only reply.

The mob was like a living thing. It moved and moaned and screamed as one. But, it was only a mass of confusion. Cameras, journalists, fans, groupies, drug dealers, hookers, and the assorted riff raff gathered to gawk at another Hollywood happening which would be forgotten in a week.

"Connor, look this way, Connor!"

"Connor, are you excited about DUMBSTRUCK's general release and all the attention."

"Connor, over here!"

"Smile Connor."

"Who are you wearing, Connor?"

Connor smirked as she stumbled forward on the red carpet, "Wal Mart, $4."

The crowd shouted their approval. Gangs of women cheered her arrival. Several broke into a chant.

"Come on, Connor, mistreat me, come on and beat me, make me come on, Connor…,"

Connor scanned the mob. She smiled when she saw a cute little brunette. Waving to her to catch her eye, Connor motioned for the woman to get closer to the velvet ropes.

"Want an autograph?" Connor slurred.

"I'd rather you'd ride me like a racehorse and brand my ass but I'll take what I can get, Master Connor," the woman hushed as she licked her silicon lips and opened her blouse for Connor to sign.

Connor happily obliged her fan with an autograph across her left breast, "Right over your heart, bitch."

The woman shrieked above the throng, "I'm Master Connor's newest BITCH!

The crowd went wild. Cameras flashed repeatedly to capture the moment. Reports called out more questions but the fans shouted them down. After several minutes of hand shaking and groping spectators, Connor was gently nudged back onto the red carpet by security. Drunkenly she saluted the gathering before retreating inside the cinema.

"Isn't it amazing, Connor?" Benjy gushed as he hugged Connor. "The crowd loves you. There are hundreds of lesbians out there screaming for you to spank them. Thousands more are on line trying to get a glimpse of you. You’re a Dom icon!"

Joyce purred her approval, "I gotta agree with Benjy. You are a sexsation."

Saul stood back, quietly watching Connor. His eyes were fixed on his meal ticket. He was not smiling as the trio made their way over to him.

"Connor, you're drunk. I'm warning you…,"

Connor rolled her eyes, "I'm here Saul. Try being grateful I showed up. It'd be a nice change of pace for you to get off my ass."

"Connor, you're the one that's going to change or you're going to an early grave. I'm serious," Saul warned. "Don't expect me to stand around and watch you crash."

"Then don't," Connor stated firmly as she stared her agent down. "If I don't care then neither should you."

"Let's all calm ourselves," Joyce intervened. "Such serious matters can be discussed later. Now, we should get to our seats so we don't keep the audience waiting. Saul, be a dear and be my arm candy for the evening."

Joyce held out her arm and Saul grumpily took the offering. Connor turned on her heel to head for the theatre. Benjy chased after her. They entered the half lit hall together. With awkward steps, Connor commandeered the back row of seats instead sitting in the reserved seats up front. Joyce strolled by them with Saul at her side and went straight to the previously assigned seats.

"Hold my hand?" Benjy asked.

"Nervous?" Connor laughed at him.

"Terrified." Benjy corrected her as the house lights dwindled to extinction.

Connor almost nodded off during the previews. However, when the opening credits started to roll Benjy elbowed her awake. The letters faded and the screen flared to life with a vibrant red. The color slowly dimmed to blue grays which billowed like veils across the screen. An image below the colors emerged gracefully as the veils were shed. Connor's tear streaked face filled the screen with a haunted cry. Music swelled and surrounded the visage but the actress' tears were unending. Her hand raised once to dash the tears dry with a glimmer of metal around her wrist but the tears continued to flow.

"Benjy?" Connor forced herself to look away from the flickering image before them to question Benjy.

"It goes on like this for ninety minutes. You're so beautiful Connor. You are the movie." He stopped and looked away, "I love you. I know you don't like guys but I still love you. You're my best friend. I've missed you."

Connor didn't know what to say. "Sorry."

Benjy gave a sad smile. "It's okay. You can't change who you are. Nobody can. You're absolutely so perfectly beautiful," he sighed, "I can't help but to love you. Anyway, want some popcorn?"

Connor shook her head no and settled back to watch herself cry for the next hour or so. Movement next to her made her turn. Sammi sat in the previously empty seat to Connor's left. Sammi stared straight ahead for a few minutes.

"I remember the day he shot that footage," Sammi said in a low voice. "It was the day after our dinner at Q. The handcuff is still locked around your wrist."

Connor was mute under the accusation. Sammi stayed quiet as the music swelled. The pair remained still with Connor watching Sammi as Sammi watched Connor on the screen.

"It's all been some kind of game for you three, hasn't it?" Sammi whispered without turning to face Connor. "You could have told me you were players. You should have told me. You know, you can trust…,"

Connor got up in mid sentence and left the theater without another word to anybody.

Somewhere in her fuzzy memory, she remembered the Oscar announcement. She could remember holding the heavy statue while standing, swaying in a stupor between Benjy and Joyce. She could not utter a word of thanks even if there were time to do so. Saul took the allotted time all to himself. After the press moments backstage, there were parties. A never ending series of non stop parties commenced for Connor. Limitless supplies of drugs and booze and women and men. She lost track of time and her friends and her obligations. She didn't even care that she lost track of herself.

She was drifting. She was dangling high above a chasm between life and death. The slap across her face startled her. Brutish hands grabbing hold of her arms rattled her. A stinging blast of cold water from above made her struggle. Strong fingers dug deep into her skin to force a grimace from her sallow cheeks. But, she refused to cry out her pain. She would not let them know the depth of her suffering.

"Wake up, Connor," Saul's voice was drained of emotion. "You are going to be at the premiere of KABOOM even if it kills you. And, it might because you are going sober and then I'm shipping your ass straight to rehab. I'm sick of your shit."

Connor struggled against the men holding her under the freezing spray. They were too strong for her. Her body was too empty from weeks and weeks of parties and drugs and sex and booze. She didn't have a muscle left on her bony frame healthy enough to fight back.

The water stopped. Connor gasped and panted as she hung in an iron fisted grasp of her captors. She cracked open her eyes to glare at Saul.

"Fuck you," she managed before the water blasted her again.

"Gentlemen, you have four hours to sober up my little starlet," Connor bristled at Saul's description of her. "Dress her in the clothes I put in the closet and deliver her to the theatre twenty minutes before show time. Don't you dare leave her side for even a second. If you screw up then I'll see to it you're all deported."

"Wait a minute, I was born here." The guy holding the struggling woman's left arm clarified.

"Believe me when I tell you I can make it happen," Saul promised before he left them to clean up Connor.

Connor was lapsing in and out of consciousness. Time was passing but she had little awareness of the events. She finally pulled her faculties together enough to realize she was dressed in comfortable clothes and sitting in a coolly air conditioned town car. Sitting up a little straighter, she tried to rub her dry eyes clear.

"Oh, no you don't," Saul grabbed her hand and tugged it away from her face. "You're make up is perfect. Don't smudge it before picture time."

Connor looked up at him and managed to mutter a question, "Picture time?"

"KABOOM premieres tonight," Saul explained. "You're on the red carpet once more. Please, try to act sober. Remember I did say, please. All you need to do is pose for pictures just like your co-star and the director and the wardrobe woman then we all sit down and watch the movie with popcorn and soda and candy. After which, I take you directly to rehab."

"Don't want to go…,"

Saul pulled her by the hair so her ear was next to his mouth. "I didn't ask you and I don't care what you want! You've been screwing around for almost five months. I'm not going to lose another kid to pills and booze. Never again! Not after losing Anissa. If you won't go to rehab on your own then my boys and me will take you there and make certain you stay. You need to trust me on this that I can make it happen, Connor."

"Just wait. You won't care in three hours when this movie bombs. Just you wait!" Connor warned.

Saul smirked, "And, all this time I thought you were an optimist."

The remainder of the ride passed in silence.

Connor refused to sit with Saul or her friends once she got into the theatre. Instead, she sat sandwiched between the body guards in the back row and fell asleep. Her rest was only disturbed by laughter, applause, and cheering. Once the film ended, the guards tugged Connor to her feet to make a quick exit.

She pushed herself way from their grip and the growing crowd gathering behind them. Connor rushed into the theatre's private woman's room. The roar of the mob on the other side of the door dinned minutely. Turning the water on full blast, she waited but a moment for it to fill before ducking her face in the cool liquid. She held her breath under the delicious torment until her lungs begged for air. Flipping her head back she gave no thought to whomever she might spray.

"You're not going to look so good for post picture time," droned a voice from the past.

Connor refused to open her eyes or look back a Sammi as she replied, "They got me coming in and that's all they get."

Connor reached for the paper towel dispenser. Instead, her seeking hands were filled with the dry cloth. Connor scrubbed her face dry, mindless of the make up. Her eye opened slowly to Sammi's concerned face.

"I've been worried about you."

"F…," the profanity died on Connor's lips when she saw Sammi's protruding belly. "Oh, I didn't know. Sorry. Congrats. I guess. Tell Luke, I send my best to you three."

Sammi shook her head. "Luke isn't the father. I haven't been with Luke since our vows in the kitchen at Malibu. Funny fact, though, Luke and Gina are still together."

"Oh, I've been away, ya, away. That's it, I've been way. Didn't hear you were with somebody else, somebody new. So, tell whoever it is, best wishes," Connor babbled as she continued to search for a means around Sammi's blockade or the door.

"NO!"

"No?" Connor asked.

"There isn't another lucky guy, Connor."

"No?"

"No. This is," Sammi caressed her belly as she explained, "this is your baby. Connor, I'm carrying our child."

Connor stood silent. Sammi reached out to caress her face but Connor pulled away. She slowly shook her head.

"Not possible."

Sammi shrugged. "Not probable but," Sammi spread her arms to highlight her swollen belly, "obviously possible."

"You're lying. I don't believe you. Why would you even keep something from…,"

"I love you," Sammi blurted. "With all my heart, I love you. I didn't understand anything about love until I met you. Please give me a chance to make up for betraying you. Give me a chance, Connor, please. Give us another chance."

Connor frowned, "Why do this now? Where have you been the last five months?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

Connor laughed at her, "I've been all over the tabloids. You could have found me if you really wanted to."

"Bullshit! You were living like a vagrant. Running around with party girls and junkies. It took Saul three weeks and two private investigators to track you to that filthy apartment." Sammi took a deep breath before asking, "Connor, come home with me."

"Malibu?" Connor questioned with a smirk. "Lonely? Need it up the ass, my bitch?"

Sammi shook her head. "No, I moved back home to Nebraska. I needed a break from all the craziness. You need that too. Even if you don't stay for long, please, come back with me until after the baby."

Sammi reached out again. This time Connor did not pull away. She let Sammi cradle her cheek. Connor's eyes drifted closed and her shoulders relaxed. Tears started to make their way down her cheeks.

"I've got two tickets for tonight. There's a doctor who'll meet us at the airport and admit you to a private clinic. I'll visit every day. Once you get well, we can live in the carriage house at my folks place." Sammi continued to pet Connor as she quietly explained the arrangements. "I need your help, Connor. I can't have this baby alone. Please, say you'll give this a try?"

Connor's voice was soft and shaky, "Okay."

Connor woke at the first whimper. She rolled out of the perfectly warm bed and hurried over to the cradle. Little arms and legs punched and kicked at the air in an effort to work up a wail. Instead, a tiny sob wracked the small body.

"Good morning, Madison," Connor used a sing song voice to sooth the child. "Is it time for Mommy to wake up and get breakfast?"

Connor lifted the baby out of the cradle. She carefully arranged her on her shoulder and rubbed gentle circles on the baby's back.

"She hungry?" Sammi asked as she struggled to sit up in the bed.

"Easy you. No moving around too fast. I don't want you pulling out stitches or whatever they patched you up with," Connor instructed as she climbed back into the bed with their child. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," Sammi said as she accepted her bundle of joy to fed, "just not enough."

Connor cuddled up next to Sammi and held her while Sammi positioned Madison at her breast. The baby took it immediately and began to draw quick sharp sucks. Both women chuckled at the child's efforts.

"She has your appetite, my butch lover." Sammi smiled up at Connor.

"Oh, I don't know. I think you have some pretty fierce appetites as well," Connor challenged.

"That's true but not for food." Sammi paused, "I've missed us together. Maybe tonight we could spend some time, you know, enjoying our honeymoon. My Mom could watch Madison for an hour or so."

Connor was a bit uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Isn't it too soon for you to…you and me to explore again."

"I promise I'll be gentle with you," Sammi gave a charming smile. "Besides, we only have four more weeks of maternity leave before we have to get back to LA." "Back?"

"Well, Saul would like us back tomorrow but I told him both of us need more time. You need to keep on your program and I need to lose my baby fat. No offence, Madison," Sammi hushed as she kissed her infants head.

"I thought, you know, we could stay out here for a while, longer even. This has been so great for me, us."

"Connor, don't be silly. KABOOM was a huge hit, just like I knew it would be. The baby and rehab angle has captivated the media. Us not being available is so Julia Robertesque. It's been a perfect follow up to all the S & M, divorce stuff." Sammi patted Connor's leg as she continued, "Plus it gave us alone time. We're refreshed and read to start shooting the sequel; KABANG. Benjy says the script is awesome."

Connor stayed silent as Sammi shifted Madison to the other breast. The child latched on and resumed her frantic feeding. Her fair haired child was absolutely ravenous.

"Just like your mother," Connor murmured.

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