>>18861527Looking down at Nikki, unconscious, Colby feels a rolling wave of tension and regret roll over herself. She thought that by beating Miss USA, she had protected her friends from exactly this sort of trauma. She had been hopelessly naive. If she had taken it further, like she did with Lightning Nika, but further STILL, that might have made a difference. That might have prevented this.
>"Nikki, I'm so sorry. You've been through so much lately, I know. And I had her down, in the ring, after I beat her. I could've stopped this, if I'd just bashed her head in with her baseball bat, or choked the life out of her, and I wish like hell that I would've if it'd meant that I could've not let this happen. Next time, I....."Nikki was unconscious and couldn't hear her. Even if she couldn't, what Colby was saying now wouldn't do her any good.
>"Never mind. I'm just glad you're back with us. I don't know anything about 'Coco', but if she kept you safe somehow..... well, I just want you to be okay. That's all. You deserve so much better."Colby looks down at Nikki with a sad smile.
>"But at least I'm here now, okay? I'm here for you."Colby sits by Nikki's side, watching her rest and coming to terms with her own regrets.
