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]

"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.