Disclaimer: don�t own characters but still playing Jack dumped his buys on the kitchen table before going back out to Nora; it had just started to snow again, very lightly. Despite the awkward position she�d fallen to sleep in she looked so peaceful he could hardly bear to move her. Resting a hand on her shoulder he whispered her name, she hardly moved, just a quick jerk of her head. �Come on Nora, wake up.� She groaned and nudged his hand with her chin. �Not now Jack I�m tired.� He smiled and bit his lip; it was good to see her, good to hear her voice, good to be near her. This time he slid his arm around her back and more forcefully brought her into a sitting position. �Sorry honey but we need to get you into bed I think.� She opened her eyes and squinted at him. �What time is it?� �Just after 6. Looks like you�ve been here a while. Come on, I�ll make you some coffee and light a fire � you�re freezing.� He rubbed her hands to emphasise the point and she instinctively pulled them back out of his grasp. �My bag.� She murmured glancing into the back seat. �I�ll get it, you go on in.� Heavy footed she stumbled across the frozen earth towards the light of the porch. It didn�t occur to her until she stood in the unfamiliar kitchen that she had no idea what exactly she was going to say to Jack, and on top of that she�d never stopped to think how he might feel about her impromptu visit. What if he really did want to be alone and she�d ruined it by turning up uninvited? What if he wasn�t prepared to have her staying there with him? What if when he said goodbye he really meant it? By the large kitchen table she stopped and stared at the picture hanging on the wall, from the look of things it had been there quite a while. An old farmhouse, perhaps the one she was now standing in now, though obviously it hadn�t weathered well over the years. �My grandfather painted it.� Jack said as he entered the kitchen. Closing the door behind him and dumping her travel bag on the table. He gestured for her to move to the other room. �It�s more comfortable in here, I�ll get the fire going, you�ll be fine. Do you feel ok?� She nodded, what the hell else was she supposed to do? �Yeah, just tired, up most of the night.� �It�s a long drive isn�t it.� �It is.� �But beautiful, I�d forgotten how much.� He closed the blinds and picked up his breakfast pots from the small table by the window. �There are blankets in the chest. Are you hungry?� He fussed clearing his clothes from the couch and plumping up a few old pillows. �Jack, please, slow down. Don�t you care why I�m here?� �I figured we�d get to that later.� He stopped and looked at her properly. �You look good Jack, better.� �Thanks, must be the fresh air.� He smiled flippantly. �Were you waiting long?� �No,� she smiled. �Well yes I suppose I must have been.� �Take your coat off, here I�ll take it. Have this instead.� He handed her a blanket. �Sit down, make yourself comfortable. I�ll make a fire and then something to eat.� He rubbed his hands together and moved closer to her politely kissing her cheek. �It�s good to see you Nora.� * * Despite her best intentions Nora felt her mind drifting away again, her eyes were heavy and her body ready to lie down and rest. As it was she was hunched up in one corner of the couch watching Jack stoke up the fire again. �I guess after all that driving you�re ready for some sleep.� �You read my mind.� She smiled gratefully as he turned around. �Thanks for dinner.� �You know you�re very welcome.� She swallowed; he seemed so sincere, a world away from the Jack McCoy who hurried out of the city all those weeks ago. �I wasn�t sure how you�d react to my showing up here � unannounced as it were.� �To be honest I�m not sure how to react, I guess we�ll see. I�m assuming you�re gonna stay a few days.� �If I�m not imposing.� She was uncertain how to talk to him; it�s had been so long since they�d held a real discussion instead of arguing. At the moment she was still gauging his reactions, testing the waters. �Course not, only one bedroom though � I�ll take the couch.� �Gentleman.� �That, and it�s warmer out here anyway.� �And truthful.� She smiled warmly and stretched her arms out above her head. �I was planning to fix the fire up in there, shouldn�t take much. But haven�t got round to it yet.� �You�ve been busy?� �Very, plenty to keep me busy. It helps � to pass the time.� �I know.� �How�s work?� He blurted out. �My work, oh, fine, difficult at the moment, nobody prepared to study come January and exams for many of the students. You remember.� �I do.� He got up from the floor. �I�ll show you where you are, and the bathroom. You want anything, glass of water?� �I�m fine really, I�ll collapse as soon as my head hits the pillow, believe me.� * Nora washed her face, changed into pyjamas and an extra sweater that Jack had given her and found her way down the hall to her designated bedroom. The bed was obviously very old and quite large and Nora got the distinct impression it hadn�t been slept in for years. Despite her apprehension she was too exhausted to worry who had or hadn�t slept in the bed before her and as Jack had piled a heap of extra blankets at the bottom for her she climbed in. Afterall, she figured, it was better than the car. In the other room Jack slept soundly. * * Jack was up early and eager to get on with the day, now that he had a guest he desperately wanted to fix that room up. The storm that had threatened last night seemed to have passed them by and the sky was bright and promising. He waited until almost 10am before looking in on Nora; she still slept so he decided to go into town and get essentials to make her visit more comfortable. When he returned he found her in the lounge reading. Fully dressed but wrapped in a blanket nevertheless. �Comfortable?� She slipped her glasses off and turned to regard him. �Thank you I am.� �Did you eat?� �Not yet.� �Then shall I make lunch? I got loads of stuff.� He babbled on whilst Nora sat calmly watching him, she wasn�t used to seeing Jack McCoy off kilter. Though it was becoming something of a regular occurrence nowadays. �Jack really, you don�t have to fuss over me, I came here to see you.� �To check up on me.� �To make sure you were ok.� She closed her book and placed it into her lap. �If you want me to leave you alone then I will.� �That�s not what I meant, I�m happy to have you here, really I am.� �Fine,� She got up and shrugged the blanket off. �Then shall we get something to eat, I�m starving.� She patted his arm as she passed him on her way to the kitchen. He shook his head before following her. �So I was wondering, is every decision going to be such a battle.� She asked as she began emptying the bags laid out on the table. �Sorry, guess I�m a little apprehensive.� �I haven�t come here to judge you Jack, just to help.� �I know, let�s forget it shall we. I got carrot cake from the only Bakery in town. And a newspaper, it�s only local but I know you like to keep up with the news.� �So do you.� �Kinda lost touch though, you want tea or coffee?� �Coffee. What do you mean you lost touch?� �Just that, no cable to pass the hours.� �And no work neither.� She realised she�d struck a chord and quickly moved on. �So you didn�t even know Jennifer and Ben have broken up.� She smiled. �Good god no, there�s a shock! Thought they were destined for a quiet married life and kids.� �I know, I know.� She laughed. �So what are the plans for today?� �Well I was planning on clearing that fireplace out in your room so we can actually get it lit.� �My room?� �The only bedroom in the house.� She sat down as he passed her coffee over. �I was wondering what is in the other rooms?� �Most are empty, pool table in one but I can�t find any cues.� �What a shame.� �Ha.� She laughed quietly and sipped her coffee. �If I was really organised I�d sort them all out and get new beds delivered, coat of paint on the walls, that kind of thing.� �Never realised you were into decorating.� �I never have been � apart from with the first place I ever got.� �That�s different...� �Because its yours.� �Exactly. Milk?� �No, I�ll have it black thanks.� �Could be a nice little cottage if someone paid attention to it, my cousin doesn�t seem to care.� �Perhaps you should buy it from him, a little escape every now and then.� �Yeah, I guess.� Nora leant back in her chair and glanced out the window. �Is it cold out?� �Not too bad, clear sky at least.� �I might take a walk.� �You want me to show you around?� �No that�s fine, you have things to do, I don�t mind strolling around the village. I�m not here to impose.� �You wouldn�t be.� He leant forward to cut a slice of cake. �Besides I wouldn�t be much of a host if I let you wander off alone.� �Jack really, it�s fine. Fix the fire and warm my room, in my eyes that makes you a better host!� She smiled and took the plate he held out for her. �I�ll take a walk after lunch then do a little reading and that�s my exciting plans for the day.� �Sounds blissful.� �It will be�� * * It didn�t take long at all to clean the fire up and after a few failed attempts there was soon a warm glow in the room. As Nora was still out on her exploration Jack took the time to clean the room, re-arranged the furniture so she could see through the large window from her vantage point in bed, found a small table to place a clock and lamp on by the bed. Changed the sheets on for fresh ones he�d bought that very morning and concealed once he got home. Although he probably wouldn�t admit it having her there for only a day had brightened him up already. The previous nights sleep was largely uneventful, certainly no sign of the dreams that had plagued him for months. He could almost pretend that this was nothing more than short break; then he�d remember the way he walked out on her, or how he�d embarrassed her by not turning up for the meal with her mother, or how anyone with any credit in the city would recommend she have nothing more to do with him. In the end he couldn�t blame her if she didn�t � which begged the question just why had she come all this way simply to check up on him? He prepared chicken for dinner, left it to marinade and made sure he chilled a bottle of white to go with it, before going out to cut more logs ready for the fire. * Nora made her way up the track towards the cottage, she could hear Jack whistling but couldn�t yet see him. It hadn�t taken her long to realise that she still loved him, but of course she must have already known that deep down � otherwise she wouldn�t be here. Yet she held back from telling him, she held back from giving too much or appearing to eager and hid behind the pretence that she was here as a friend checking up on a friend. Because perhaps if she gave too much he would throw it all back again, and she was getting too old to play his games. Good to have his company again though, even if it was only for a few days. �Preparing for the worst are we?� She joked as she rounded the corner into the back yard. Jack looked up smiling; his face was red despite the cold. �Hi, nice walk?� �Very nice.� �Good.� He took his gloves off and rubbed his forehead silently noting how she leant against the fence, bundled up in her heavy coat and scarf. �Think I might go in for a hot drink. You want one?� �Sure, I�ll come with you, had enough of this. Gimmie a second to pile these up by the door.� He replaced his gloves. �You want me to help.� �Certainly not.� She held her hands up defeated. �Fine, I�ll go get the mugs out ready.� * Jack crept up behind her in the kitchen, she wore a red sweater and it looked glorious on her. These were moments he should try and remember, the way she looked making tea in an old cottage late afternoon. He smiled to himself at the ridiculousness of it all. �I already prepared dinner we just need to cook it when we�re ready.� She spun round unaware he�d even returned indoors. �Is that what I can smell?� �Most probably.� �Hmm.� She returned to pouring the tea. �The room is lovely Jack, thank you.� �Oh, wasn�t much.� He muttered as he rinsed his hands. �But you made the effort.� She went to sit in the lounge and he soon followed her standing by the fire as she sat by the French doors. �I got through to my Mother, picked a signal up near the main road.� �Oh� good.� �Thought I better let her know I�m still alive.� �Suppose so.� �I might take a bath before dinner, is that ok?� �Yeah sure, plenty of hot water, I�ll get you some towels and what have you.� �Thanks.� �Can I ask Nora, what really made you come here?� �Serena forcing my hand � I told you. Besides that I suppose I was a little worried, you did spend Christmas alone afterall.� �Rebecca came for a couple of days.� �Really?� She smiled despite herself. �That�s good.� �I think she felt obliged.� �Oh don�t be like that, I�ve met her remember I know that she loves you � and you her, despite all your bravado.� �Too smart for your own good.� He finished his tea. �I�ll get the towels and run your bath. There�s wine in the kitchen if you�d like a glass too.� �Jack you don�t have to keep spoiling me.� �Why not? It takes my mind off myself for a while. Besides I deserve to do a little crawling at least� after the way I left�� It was the first time either of them had mentioned it and it was all he said before leaving the room. At least she knew he felt guilty about it. She finished her tea and returned to the kitchen rinsing her cup. Perhaps she would have a glass of wine afterall. By the time she collected a few things from her room and got to the bathroom Jack had kindly lit a few candles and used fragrant oil in the water. Tonight at least she was being spoiled � and she had to admit she liked it. * When Jack woke the following morning he had no recollection of falling to sleep the night before. But he was tucked up on the couch comfortably and there was a wonderful smell of coffee coming from the kitchen. Reluctantly he picked himself up from the couch and grabbing his sweater from the back of it slipped it on as he made his way into the kitchen. Nora sat reading the paper and eating toast. �Well good morning.� She smiled glancing over the top of her glasses. �Good morning.� He retrieved a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a coffee. �How are you this morning?� �Fine thank you,� She took her glasses off. �And you must be fully refreshed.� He shook his head as he sat down across from her. �I fell to sleep mid-conversation didn�t I.� �Pretty much, left me with all the dishes too.� �Sorry.� �You must have been exhausted. Would you like some toast?� �I�ll get it don�t worry.� �Alright.� She replaced her glasses and continued to read the paper. �So what are your plans today?� �To do whatever you wish.� �Really? Then that fits exactly with my plans too.� �Oh how convenient�� He chuckled. �So what does her ladyship wish us to do?� �See the sights of course.� �That should take all of forty-five minutes then.� �Oh come on, you�ve managed to stick it out here for long enough.� �Necessity!� He finished his coffee. �Alright, we can drive into the village later, I�ll show you around, we can have a light lunch.� �Sounds fine.� �Maybe go for a long walk in the afternoon, if the weather stays fine.� She rested a hand on his. �It will, trust me. I�ll go get dressed.� * Nora was content with the silence, she was quietly glad that their relationship was back on an even keel. After the initial uneasiness between them they were getting on fine, the morning had been wonderful and as the weather was still good they set out on their walk. Bundled up well and protected from the cold Jack led the way down the main road from the cottage towards a hidden track that wandered off into the distance. It wasn�t kept well and often it was overgrown and cumbersome but he was certain the view when they got to the end was well worth it. Jack glanced back over his shoulder at Nora struggling up the hill. �You ok?� �You didn�t warn me it would be so muddy.� She complained stopping and glaring at him. �What did you expect � the yellow brick road?� �Screw you smart arse!� Jack laughed as she fussed over her shoes and went back down to her holding out his hand. �Come on, keep up or I�ll leave you to the lions and tigers and bears.� She grabbed his hand and squeezed his fingers. �Oh my!� �Ow�� �Well, leading me all this way.� �You asked for entertainment, I�m providing it. Anyway not far and then we can sit down and enjoy the view.� �I�ll believe it when I see it.� She reached the top of the slippery hill and still held onto his hand. * �Now this is more like it.� Nora stretched out her legs. �A seat.� �Provided by nature.� Jack quipped. �I�m sorry I complained so much, it really is lovely up here. How did you find it?� �Lots of wandering days, trying to figure my way around. City boy goes rough � how proud my dad would be�� He sat down in front of her. Nora smiled. �I�d like you to come home with me.� �I know.� �Will you?� �I don�t know.� He shook his head and looked down at his feet again. �It�s difficult.� �What can be so difficult Jack that we can�t sort out? I can�t stay forever, I have to get back to work on Monday, you know that.� �Yeah but that�s not fair, that�s not my fault.� �So it�s mine.� �That�s not what I meant. I just need time.� �How much more time, you�ve had weeks and weeks out here alone, I didn�t expect anything of you, I didn�t call or write or bother you. I�d given up on any idea of us; I came out here for Serena�s peace of mind as much as my own. I need to know what�s going on with you�� �How can I tell you? How can I explain?� �I wish you�d try. At least give me something, don�t you think I�ve given you�� �Yes! Yes you�ve given more than enough�patience and friendship. I do love you Nora. And part of me wants to turn around now and go back with you, crawl my way into Hogans Place and beg for my job back. Get my life back into some sort of normality. But the other part, the other part is just digging.� �Digging?� �Trying to reason out why all this has happened now, why I reacted the way I did to that girl�s death. Why I�m constantly thinking about him and questioning my life.� �Your Father?� Jack nodded. Nora rested a hand on his shoulder. �Won�t you talk to me, tell me what�s going on with you.� �I don�t find it easy to talk about him. Sure I can curse him til I�m blue in the face, I can condemn his actions and hate his guts and think he�s the lousiest son of a bitch to ever walk this earth. But the truth is he probably isn�t, and beneath the anger and resentment I find it difficult to accept that this monster � this man � is my flesh and blood. What do I owe him now?� He pulled forward so she couldn�t touch him. �And who am I really to condemn him? And how dare I be so weak that I can sit here and blame my behaviour on him.� He took a deep breath. Nora sat silent behind him, leaning back against the wall. �I treated you like crap this year Nora, I treated my friends like it too, I abandoned my work, my one and only constant. I turned to drink and was happy to drift off into nothingness because I couldn�t see anything worth getting up and working for. And each day that I did it I could see myself becoming more and more like him.� �You aren�t him.� �I know.� He turned to look at her for the first time since he�d begun talking. His face was pale but there was no trace of tears, he looked oddly calm and relieved. �I keep dreaming about my Mother, constant dreams about her.� Nora waited for him to continue. �Different dreams,� He stood up stretching his legs and moving to stand against the wall Nora leant against, looking out over the snow covered field. �Sometimes I�m right back there in that house hiding in my room, beneath my bed, covering my ears against the distant sound of my Mother being beaten.� His voice didn�t break. �Other times it�s strange, I�m back there again but I�m me, as I am now, begging her to get us out. She never did, of course she never did. Stayed until he died. Even cried at his funeral.� He closed his eyes. �Can you believe that, is that what love is, I ask you?� He shook his head. �I�m sorry, you shouldn�t have to listen to my ramblings.� �I want to.� She dragged herself up from the rock she sat on using the wall as leverage, and stood beside him watching the same view he was. �It�s getting late we should start back.� He half whispered to the view. �Alright.� She placed a gloved hand on his bare one. �You must be freezing.� �Haven�t noticed.� She squeezed his fingers lightly and he turned to look at her. �I�m sorry I dragged you out here this afternoon, in fact I�m sorry I dragged you out here at all.� �I�m here because I want to be. Nobody could ever drag me anywhere.� She smiled, leant forward and kissed his mouth very gently. �You are cold.� �Thanks for listening.� �I was willing to listen anytime you were ready to talk. I�m guessing we haven�t even scraped the surface.� �Feel kinda selfish, doing all the moaning.� �Isn�t about time somebody listened to you for a change.� �But should that be you? I feel bad dumping my problems on you.� �I always thought that�s what relationships were supposed to be about. Never quite managed it before though, that exchange of feelings.� �Me neither.� He took a deep breath and turned back towards the road ready to start the walk back. �What if we can�t manage it this time either?� �Well at least we made a start, I�m getting too old�� He turned and smiled doubtfully at her, �Don�t tell me, you�re finally ready to settle down.� She held her hands up. �And who would have ever guessed it.� She grabbed his arm as she stumbled down the hill to the road. �Come on before it gets dark, I�ll cook tonight.� �Wow, what an offer.� He linked his arm with hers and they settled back in to a slow walk along the track. * �You�ve gone very quiet, not embarrassed by what you said are you?� �Shouldn�t be really should I.� �No not at all � I�ve seen you naked and singing in the shower remember.� He laughed, glad that she had the wonderful ability to lighten any sombre mood. �Well then I can tell you anything.� She squeezed his arm. �Yes you can, you hardly ever mention your past.� �It�s not something that�s easy to bring up in conversation.� �But it doesn�t mean it isn�t important.� �I guess not going on last years performance.� He shrugged. �You try and leave it behind, forget it ever happened, it was another you or maybe not even you at all � just something you saw on TV or read in a book.� �But it doesn�t just disappear simply because you don�t want to face it.� She stated, watching his face for reaction. ��Something must trigger it off� eventually.� She held his hand tighter. �No better time for a little soul searching � stuck in the middle of nowhere with a beautiful intelligent woman, what else would you do with your time than re-visit painful memories.� �Don�t be flippant.� He let go of her arm to move a rather large branch that was hanging over the track and allow her to get beneath it. �If it�s the bad stuff you wanna hear there�s plenty.� �I have no doubt about that. You�ve been quite a bastard at times McCoy.� �Plenty will agree with you on that score.� He took up holding her hand again. �Been a pretty lousy Father to Rebecca, no idea how to do it, wanted to, just didn�t seem to have that ability. Probably shouldn�t have had kids really.� He turned to watch her face as she listened. �You never fancied it?� �Children? No, not really. Never seemed the right time.� �I blame it on my crappy childhood, nothing to base my parenting skills on � apart from watching the Brady Bunch on TV as a kid, when we were allowed to of course. What�s your excuse?� �Don�t have one, career probably. My brother and sister both provided heirs for the family name. I never felt the need. Perhaps some people just don�t have the maternal instinct.� �I find it hard to believe that somebody as caring as you wouldn�t make a wonderful mother.� �And you know all about my caring side don�t you.� �I know enough.� �You think you do. When we get back to the city�� �Er I haven�t agreed to come back yet.� She smiled lopsided at him, confident and yet full of grace. �Ahh but you will.� * * * Halfway through their second bottle of wine and sated with good food and a warm fire Nora once again played the gracious host and listened attentively to Jack� and his amusing question and answer session. She was on the couch, feet tucked up beneath her, head sunk into the pillows piled there and heavy blanket pulled high under her chin. Jack lay on the floor by the fire, eyes closed enjoying the stillness of the evening. �Ok, so my worst date was� that�s a tough one.� �You�ve had so many!� He grinned. �No, I�ve had so few actually.� �Lucky you.� �Depends what type of people you attract.� �I managed to attract you.� �It was your winning charm!� �Touch�.� �Alright so the most embarrassing date that ever happened to me � if that counts � has to be Valentines. I was 23, I�d been seeing this boy for a few weeks and he�d invited me round to his place for dinner to celebrate.� �Alright, this sounds promising.� He opened his eyes and leant on one elbow to watch her. �All was going well until he told me he had a surprise for me and disappeared into the other room.� �And?� �God I can�t believe I�m telling you this, you�ll use it against me in future battles I can tell.� �Oh come on, enlighten me.� She shook her head, still partly embarrassed by the story. �Well he returned to the room in� oh god, in a leopard print thong!� Jack�s laugh was spontaneous and got worse the more she tried to calm him. �It�s not bloody funny, I was petrified at the time.� �What did you do?� �What any sensible woman would do, asked him what the hell he thought he was doing and told him he looked like an idiot and I never wanted to see him again.� �And did you ever see him again?� �Funnily enough he never called me. Which I was very glad about. Dreaded Valentines for years.� �I�m not surprised. So does that count as worst break up too?� �No, it�s not actually.� �Go on�� �Hey that�s two questions, it�s my turn.� �My rules.� He moved closer to the couch and in an attempt to appease her drew her feet out from beneath the blanket and started to rub her toes. �I�ll do both feet if you play along.� �A lawyer to the very end.� She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. �Alright, worst break up� few of those moments! When I was 27 I dated a man four years my junior and I broke his heart when I told him we weren�t suited. He cried and cried� followed me out of his apartment to the street in floods of tears.� �What a bitch.� �I know, I�m terrible. I�d never seen a man cry before, aside from my Father of course. The worst thing was he still lived with his Mother, I told him to go back inside, forced him to and as I went to get in my car she leant out of the window waving and smiling � she knew nothing about me just dumping her beloved son.� �Take it he never called either.� �Surprisingly not. I changed my number after the first week of �begging� calls.� Jack bit his lip to suppress a smile. �Your love life�s been as colourful as mine. So who did it you, worst break up on your side?� �A couple, my first love.� She closed her eyes, �Sixteen and gorgeous he was, planned what my wedding dress would be like for that boy. He �changed� me for Lucy Breddon who lived at the other side of town. Hated her for years after that� And then, well when I was engaged and he left.� She turned over, pulling her left foot from his hand and pushing her right one forward. �Is that all you�re going to say on that?� �This really is heart spilling moment isn�t it?� She chided. �You already know about it anyway.� �I know what I heard.� �And what did you hear, on the politically correct grapevine?� �That you were set to marry and then he got a last minute job offer in Europe and left.� �Ahh then that�s not the whole story. You missed out on the part about me getting cold feet and telling him I couldn�t do it.� �You did.� �I did I�m afraid, commitment shy, I� well I don�t need to explain that feeling to you.� He shook his head. �I didn�t want him to leave though, I just couldn�t bring myself to beg him to stay.� She pulled herself into a sitting position and took a rather large gulp of her wine. Realising he had stopped massaging her feet and was simply cradling them Jack let go and reached for the bottle to refill their glasses. �And now you�re here with me.� �That I am,� She held her glass out for him. �You were number three on the list.� He stopped and looked up. �You lousy son-of-a-bitch broke my heart� for the first time in years and years.� He took the glass from her hand and started to fill it. �Nora, why come here. You wouldn�t beg the love of your life to stay so why come here for me? When I hardly deserved it.� She leant forward and took the glass from him and whispered. �Who said he was the love of my life? Now fetch another bottle, it�s your turn to take the stand. I told you one day I�d return the favour.� �That you did.� He stated calmly as he got up and went to kitchen to retrieve another bottle of red. * * �Are you still awake?� �Barely.� Nora�s face was pressed against Jack�s chest, his arms held her tight against him as they lay squashed up on the couch. The room was dark and warm, the fire almost out. He should get up and stoke it again but he didn�t want to break the contact. It wasn�t the most comfortable of positions but god he was loving every second of it. The first time he�d held her in months. She kissed him earlier, a passing touch of the lips as she fell into slumber beside him but the contact lingered with him and he wanted to do it again. To feel her mouth warm and soft against his, that stimulating caress of human touch. His head blurring at the feel of it, a buzzing in his ears, he�d almost forgotten how it could be. And now he lay still and silent as she dozed next to him. It didn�t matter what he�d said earlier or what secrets she�d divulged tonight, it just mattered that despite all that there was no place on earth he�d rather be. He didn�t want to run away from it any longer, he wanted to face whatever was going to come along. He grimaced as his foot cramped and his sudden movement woke her and she groaned as she stirred in his arms. He cursed the weakness of his body. �So late.� She mumbled as she twisted the watch on her wrist. �And so uncomfortable on here.� �I know. Gotta move, got cramp.� �Oh I�m sorry.� She moved out of his way so he could get up and stretch his foot. �Better?� �Yeah.� He sat on the edge of the couch and rubbed his calf. �Time for bed?� �I suppose. Think I drunk a little too much� and lord knows what stories I told you.� �Plenty!� He smiled. �I�ll warm some blankets for the bed for you.� �Why don�t we share it tonight, it�s better than you staying out here. I�d like you too.� He smirked. �But I�m the lousy son-of-a-bitch who broke your heart.� The pillow hit him squarely in the face. �Then start mending it.� She got up from the couch and wrapped the blanket around her. �I gotta go to bed, sleep with me or don�t, I need to lie down.� She wobbled her way to the bedroom, knocking into a few pieces of furniture on her way. Home Review Stories |
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| T h e S u r f a c e part eight |
| by Ms. E |