Playing With Fire

++++++++++



The curtain closed in front of them and they were immediately immersed in darkness. Carrie reached out, taking Kelly's hand in her own, but they were immediately pulled apart towards opposite ends of the stage, as people rushed them to the presses.



Their fingers grazed, and Kelly felt a longing deep within her. She nodded thanks at all the praise that was sent her way as she was rushed backstage for a quick touch up before she met with the reporters. She could hear Reba accepting the award and smiled. Nobody deserved it more than she did.



Carrie allowed herself to be tugged along backstage, following wherever she was led. She smiled as they passed Amelia.



"Passionate enough for you?" she asked as she was whisked by.



She heard Amelia grumble something, and she smiled in satisfaction.



++++++++++++



"So what am I doing?" Kelly asked as Jason and Ashley rushed along side her.



"Just a few pictures. Answer a couple questions. It shouldn't be long, I promise," Jason explained, pushing her into the press room. She smiled immediately as she felt the flashes exploding in front of her.



"Kelly!"



"Kelly!"



She smiled, and turned, and posed, following the calls of her name. She answered their questions, and posed some more. All the time, her mind was elsewhere. Just as she thought the flashes were finally dying down, they erupted again. Kelly turned to her right to see what was adding to her torment. She noticed a familiar redhead walking into the room. Her eyes still red from tears. She rushed up to Kelly, embracing her tightly, whispering her thanks in her ear.



And just when Kelly thought the room couldn't get any louder, it seemed to explode once more. Kelly turned to find the country blonde being pushed into the room as well. Their eyes met, and neither one of them could hide their smiles. Carrie walked out to the press line, joining the other two, with Reba in the middle, and they posed for the pictures.



Kelly could concentrate even less than she could before as they answered questions with Carrie only a few feet from her. Finally, when she thought she would be freed, the unthinkable happened.



"Can we have a few with just Kelly and Carrie?!" a photographer called, and the room erupted with agreement.



Reba nodded, giving each of the girls one final hug, before walking out to go meet her husband.



The girls stood there awkwardly for a second, each had so much to say to the other, but their thoughts were interrupted as the photographers started calling their names once more.



"Y'all embrace!" one called out, and Kelly felt her stomach turn into knots. It was funny how the one thing she had been wanting to do all night was the same thing she was dreading. Carrie smiled at her, as she reached out and tugged her towards her. The two wrapped their arms around the others waist, facing the cameras in a friendly embrace.



"That was amazing," Carrie said, looking down at her.



"Amazing doesn't even cover it," Kelly replied, meeting her gaze. She felt Carrie tighten her embrace, and Kelly leaned into the blonde, turning back to the camera. Carrie struggled no to make a sound as she felt Kelly's body pressed fully against hers. She smiled for the cameras, as her mind drifted elsewhere, hoping that the glazed over look in her eyes would not be reflected in the pictures.



++++++++++++



Kelly looked around, searching for her, but it was useless. Backstage was a mad house and at her height, she was lost in the crowd. After they had left the press room, Carrie had been swept away by her team and a rather angry looking manager.



"Looking for someone?" Ashley asked, helping Kelly through the crowd.



"No," she sighed. "No one."



"Well, look. If you go and get changed, we can get out of here," Ashley said, hoping to get her mood up.



"Sure."



"Unless, you want to stay? You want to go to one of the after parties or anything?"



"No." She stopped in her tracks. "Look, I got it from here. How about I meet y'all in the lounge in a half hour?"



"You sure?"



"Yea," Kelly replied, giving her a quick hug.



"Is she ok?" Jason asked, walking up to Ashley as Kelly wove in and out of the crowd, making her way to her dressing room.



"I have no idea."



++++++++++++++



"Ok, so we have a meeting next Tuesday with the execs in which you have a lot of explaining to do," Chris began. "But before that, you owe an extreme apology to Valentino. He'll be expecting your call tomorrow."



Carrie nodded, looking around. She had lost Kelly as soon as they had stepped backstage, and now in this crowd it would be damn-near impossible to find the short brunette.



"Are you listening?" he asked.



Carrie's eyes widened as she saw Kelly breaking free from the crowd and heading towards her dressing room. So much for impossible.



"Yea," Carrie replied dreamily. She pushed past Chris, making her way to Kelly's dressing room.



"What the--"



But she ignored Chris's comment, concentrating on the door that had just closed a few feet away. Behind that door held the person she most wanted to see, to talk to. Behind that door held everything she had been searching for, and everything she had been running from. She just didn't know it yet.



She brought a shaky hand to the door knob, turning it slowly.