[[ wheelsy, south carolina // saturday night, henenlotter's saddle lounge ]]

[justdidntseeit]

[ "we can't cancel, can we?" ]

She threads her fingers with Bill's as she takes his proffered hand.

(Convincing him had been easy; a simple, "It's your last weekend as a free man -- let's go out on Saturday" had gotten an immediate smile and a nod of agreement. The hard part was assuring him they should stay in town instead of driving to Columbia for a night out.)

Gravel crunches beneath her heels as she slides from the cab of the truck.

"S'pretty crowded tonight," he says with a glance around the parking lot.

"Let's hope there's not another rodeo on," she teases, squeezing his hand. She ignores the tight feeling in the pit of her stomach and doesn't let herself double-check for June's car as they cross the gravel lot.

Bill holds the door for her and she ducks inside; the four-piece band stops warming up and the lodge buzzes with the hushed hum of nearly a hundred people.

When Bill steps in beside her, the house lights flash.

"SURPRISE!"

Resisting the urge to bite the inside of her cheek (and stifling a laugh at the hand-painted Welcome Back Sherr Sheriff!! banner), Kate turns to give him a hopeful smile.

Comments

[justdidntseeit]

"Sweetheart."

She bends to take both his hands in hers.

"I love you, but you're drunk."

A tug emphasizes her point.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Am not," He denies, standing up he teeters and uses her to help his balance.

"Well... maybe just a little."

Laughing he starts moving towards the house again.

"Next time you gotta get a little drunk with me."

He squeezes her shoulder then a thought occurs to him that makes him worried.

"You had a good time, didn't you? I'm sorry I didn't spend a whole lot of time with you tonight. I didn't mean to get dragged off an' leave you alone."

[justdidntseeit]

They reach the steps and her arm tightens around his waist; she swallows a bemused and who's going to drive us? when concern colors his next words.

"No, Bill, I had a great time."

She turns her head to press a quick kiss to his shoulder as they step onto the porch.

"Besides, this night was for you."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

A wide grin replaces the concern and he nods, pleased.

"Good."

He turns his head to kiss her temple, stumbling slightly but keeping his feet.

"It was a good night, but it's better 'cause you enjoyed it, too."

[justdidntseeit]

She steadies him with her free hand on the center of his chest, pushing away thoughts of her conversation with Tracie and Amanda.

"Less talking, more walking," she teases as they reach the front door and she wrestles with the lock.

"Let's get you in bed."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Hey, I can talk an' walk at the same time just fine."

Although, when he says it they've already stopped walking. Leaning against the wall as she opens the door he gives her a slow smile.

"Sure thing, Ms. one-track mind."

[justdidntseeit]

That earns a snort and a gentle elbow to Bill's stomach once the door is open.

"C'mon, sheriff."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

One hand goes to his belly protectively, then he drapes his other arm around her shoulders and staggers in.

"Home sweet home." He smiles at her, remembering her words from the other night as they head straight for the bedroom.

[justdidntseeit]

Her expression softens and she gives his waist a squeeze.

"Yeah."

Once Bill's seated on the edge of the bed, she tugs off his shoes and makes quick work of the buttons on his shirt.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

While she handles everything else he fumbles with his belt. He has it unbuckled by the time she reaches his waistband and he moves his hands so she can untuck his shirt and finish.

"That's the first time we been dancin' ain't it?"

[justdidntseeit]

Her hands still momentarily before she untucks his shirt.

"I think so."

She frees the last button and takes a half-step backward.

"You may've impressed me a little."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Yeah?"

He smiles proudly then stands to shed his pants, falling back on the bed in his boxers, trying to step out of his jeans around his ankles.

"I told you I wasn't bad. An' you were great."

[justdidntseeit]

She helps him free his legs and tosses the jeans in the laundry basket near the foot of the bed.

"Only because you made me look better."

Stepping out of her heels, she stifles a wince when her soon-to-be-bruised ankle flexes.

She's unbuttoning her fitted blouse when she glances up.

"And you -- don't even think about sleeping until you brush your teeth, beer-breath."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"I am good lookin'," He agrees, eyes closing.

He takes in a slow breath and is quietly humming the song they danced to when she informs him he can't drift off just yet.

"Awww, Kate," He whines, but gets up just the same, staggering for the bathroom.

"You're just lucky I love you," He informs her as he goes.

[justdidntseeit]

"I am lucky," she agrees, shooting a smile at his retreating figure before pulling a pair of striped pajama pants and a cotton camisole from the dresser.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He makes a mess in the bathroom, then tries to clean it up.

Before leaving he switches his towel out for Kate's, hers being covered in toothpaste and stained blue from mouthwash.

Returning to the bed he flops down again, proud (and completely innocent) smile on.

[justdidntseeit]

She heads for the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

She's flipping on the light when her heel slips on the tile, and her hand slaps the counter to steady herself.

"What the -- "

There's a curious blue pool under her foot, and the heel of her hand is covered in Crest Fresh Mint.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Kate's taking awhile in the bathroom so Bill pads down the hallway to the kitchen for a bottle of water.

And a snack.

He makes a bologna sandwich, with an ungodly amount of mustard on it, then sits at the kitchen table to eat.

In his boxer shorts.

Fridge door wide open behind him.

[justdidntseeit]

Once the floor's dry, the counter is free of the last stubborn vestiges of toothpaste, Kate's teeth are brushed and her face is washed, she pads back to the bedroom.

The empty bedroom.

The kitchen is the next logical stop.

"Bill -- "











That's definitely mustard squishing between her toes.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill looks up and smiles at her, mouth full.

"'ey, u 'anna 'amich?"

He holds out what's left of his own to her in offering, a glop of mustard falling from between the pieces of bread to the tabletop.

[justdidntseeit]

She counts to five, silent and slow, before hopping on one foot to snag a paper towel from the roll on the counter.

(She shuts the fridge along the way.)

Brightly, "No, I'm good."

Her mouth twists a little as she cleans the condiment from her toes; a minute later, the floor's mustard-free.

"I just want you to finish up so you can get some sleep."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He watches her, smiling because, well, she looks funny.

"Okay, Kate."

He takes another bite and nods as he chews.

When the sandwich is gone he spots the spots of mustard he's left on the table and reaches for a dish towel to wipe them up.

[justdidntseeit]

She takes the cloth from his hand before he can start cleaning with it -- the white-and-blue pattern is somehow smeared with what looks like half a bottle of mustard -- and hands over another paper towel, instead.

The dish towel goes in the laundry room, and Kate washes her hands at the sink.

(She has a feeling she'll be smelling phantom mustard for at least a couple of days.)

"All set?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill does what he can to clean up the mustard, mostly just smearing it around, then joins her at the sink to wash his own hands.

Drying them on his shorts he nods.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

A beat and he stops in his tracks.

"Wait, I guess I outta brush my teeth again."

[justdidntseeit]

Her hands freeze on the twist-tie she's twirling to close the bread bag.

"I'm coming with you."