Visitors

[wearingagun]

She hated the hospital. She hated the drugs and the smell and the nurses coming and going. She couldn't get any decent sleep because someone was constantly there to check her stitches or her blood pressure or her temperature. It took a couple days before they eased off on the narcotic drip and she could focus and stay awake. Watch the vid. Raley and Ochoa had been in, as had the Captain and it seemed like half the department. Her oom was full of flowers and balloons and well wishes. The department shrink had been in twice already and Kate knew she was going to have to talk to him at length eventually.

But for now she had a tray of clear liquids, coffee and broth and gelatin. She had the vid on some mindless program about interior design. The day was sunny and Kin City General buzzed with activity around her. It made it easy to think of anything other than being tied to the wall and nearly gutted. It made it easier to forget why she hurt so much right now with her bandaged ribs and her wrist in a cast. No, she didn't think about those things in the daylight. Those thoughts came at night.

Comments

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"Well," Tereus sat back in his chair and scrubbed at his face. "My laptop is beyond repair but I was able to salvage the work we were doing with our special project." He opened his hands as a means to offer an alternative.

This was a dicey thing to do. Beckett had the ability to throw herself into her work and to simply not deal with the issues before her. He could be enabling that. On the other hand, he understood going stir crazy.

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"We could do that..." she said, tempted. "But not until I'm home. I don't want to risk anyone finding out here and people keep coming and going. Ochoa's brought me a latte every day, though the nurses just take them away when he leaves. It's sweet of him, though, you know?"

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"You'll be drinking latte before you know it." He stood and leaned against her bed so he could be closer to her. It was hard to tell how far he could push any intimacy and it really wasn't the time to discuss it.

Or maybe it was. He really had no idea. So he prodded at the edges.

"When will they release you?" While the nurses liked him, they, of course, did not discuss her with him, other than the stuff they could mention.

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"A few more days, I think. And then strict rest at home. No heavy lifting. No driving. Take my pills. I guess I'll be getting a lot of delivery." She smiled and rolled her head closer, inches away from him.

"Not like I don't do that already."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"Dick and I can handle the heavy lifting and driving. There are those little boxes to help sort your pills. I hope you have cable because I think broadcast television is going to get old quick. And we should probably stock up on take-out menus for a larger variety."

He couldn't help himself. Unfolding his arms from his chest, he lightly fingered through her hair, letting his fingers touch lightly on her face not swollen or covered in bruises. "I can even take some time off if you need me to."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"No...just come over after your shift. The team needs you- you shouldn't take time off to babysit me. I'll be okay on my own for a few hours a day," she insisted.

"But you can stay. If you want. You can stay with me."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

Tereus smiled at her, although his heart crashed against his ribcage and his spirits soared. "I'd like that very much. I can even make sure the little pill boxes get filled every day for you," he teased her.

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

She laughed softly and reached up, running her fingers through his hair.

"Just being there will be enough," she said. Beckett swallowed hard before she added, "I'm not sure I can handle spending all my time by myself."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

He turned his face to kiss at the palm of her hand as it made a pass through his hair. "I think there are plenty of us to go around that soon you may wish for the time alone. Until then," he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Whenever you need me, I'm there."

Tereus hoped she'd need him for many things. He'd take what she was comfortable giving and doing until then. "Maybe I'll make you practice dancing with me. I've been learning, you know."

It wasn't that he was avoiding talking about Bryce or what she'd been through. He very much wanted to be there to listen when she needed him. Until then, he was determined to keep things as normal as possible.

He didn't know how to do it any other way.

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so. Might pop a stitch," she said quietly. She didn't know if he knew how bad off she was, but she was going to have scars and she had stitches. The doctor had told her that it was nothing deadly, just shallow cuts that were meant to hurt.

"Tereus, I..." she started, then stopped abruptly. She wasn't even sure what she wanted to say. What she needed to say. What she should say...and what she should keep quiet.

"I'll be okay, you know. You don't have to worry."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"You won't have the stitches forever," he said, softly. He took her hand in his and twined their fingers together. "You're not going to get out of it that easy. We're going dancing."

"Look. Kate." His thumb stroked over the top of her hand, following the ridges and dips of her knuckles. "I know you will. You're strong. I don't think much can keep you down. But..." Tereus sighed before he met her gaze. "I'm still going to worry, although I'll try not to crowd you with it. Just don't shut me out. Please."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"I won't. Well...okay, let's be honest. I'll try not to. And you can call me on it if I do," she replied. His touch was nice and she smiled softly, looking at her hand in his.

"I'm working on it," she continued. "But it's not easy. I've never been good at it."

Not never...but not since her mother's murder.

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"That's all I want." He picked up her hand and kissed at the scraped and battered knuckles, taking care not to move her too quickly. "I don't know that I'm all that good at it either so we'll stumble along together. I'll feed you pizza until you explode and beg me not to order any more, and cheesecake until your pajamas no longer fit."

Placing her hand on the bed, he shifted so he could half sit comfortably without moving her. "Six week, huh?" harkening back to earlier in the conversation. "I should start a pool at the station on how long you last until you're calling the Captain to start coming in half days."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"Great. I get hurt and you threaten to make me fat," she snorted. "I'll have to work half days just to get you to take the fork out of my mouth."

It made her laugh, as well as she could. It felt good. Normal. Tereus had a way of making her relax and making her smile, even if she didn't think she wanted to. He made things better. She'd do well to not shut him out.

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

She laughed.

For many reasons, that pleased him. He knew she had so much pain, not only physical but emotional to deal with. And it was still so fresh. Tereus would move the moon to keep things even and sane for her until she was on her feet again on both fronts.

It was his hope that when she was ready, she'd know she could talk with him about it. Until then, he wasn't pushing her.

"Maybe I like that," he teased. "And to know you're kisses will be cheesecake flavored. Like with the blueberry sauce. That's my favorite."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"What are my kisses like now? Antiseptic and morphine?" she asked, tilting her chin a little to get just that much closer to him.

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

He wasn't one to turn down an invitation. Grinning at her, he closed the distance and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. "And jello. I think hospital food is one of those universal constants. No matter where you go, it's awful."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"I'm sick of jello. And broth. And tea. I want some real food, but I can't have any until tomorrow. I can't wait," she said against his lips before lunging slowly for another kiss. "You want to join me? Might be applesauce. Mmm...applesauce."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"How could I possibly turn down an offer like that?" He kissed her again, lingering longer against her lips before he pulled away to get comfortable closer to her. "And applesauce is my second favorite, right behind blueberries."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"You're so easy to please," she replied. A nurse came in and checked her vitals, glaring at Tereus for being on the bed, though she didn't say anything about it. Beckett endured the poking and checking over without a word. The nurse opened a locked box on the IV line and pressed the button, then smiled.

"Time for another dose," she said, then walked out.

"Great. Happy juice," Beckett said. "I'm about to get really fun."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"That's fine," he bent to kiss her forehead and smooth the hair from her face. "I brought you books but to tell the truth, they keep me entertained as well. While you bat at the pretty fireflies, I'll sit here and wait for it wear off."

Reluctantly, he moved off the bed and back into the chair, which he pulled closer to her. "I won't get much time with you in the next four days until my next day off."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

"You know where I'll be," she said as the familiar itchy warmth spread through her, making everything heavy. "Is this what you do? Just sit here and work puzzles while I sleep?"

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"And watch you sleep, which I admit now since it sounds stalkerish and I am hoping you won't remember that when you wake up." Tereus pulled a book off the stack and opened it, trailing a hand down her arm until he could hold her uninjured hand. "Mostly, yes. I sit here and read and work puzzles. Now rest."

[wearingagun.livejournal.com]

She closed her eyes and licked her lips slowly.

"You really don't have to stay. You could...go see Dick. Or Aayla. I'm not the only one."

[notbad-foracopy.livejournal.com]

"I know, Kate." He squeezed her hand. "You rest. I'll see them later."

He really did need to check in on Aayla and he would. Right now was Kate's time.