justdidntseeit | [[ milliways, upstairs ]]

Entry tags:

[[ milliways, upstairs ]]

[ "three days." ]

Kate's asleep on her side in Boo's too-small bed, neck bent at an awkward angle. One arm is draped around Boo's snoring form, and the fingers of her free hand are still loosely curled around a dog-eared paperback on the pink comforter. An impressive assortment of Boo's books litter the floor, and a small stack is perched precariously between the edge of the mattress and Kate's heel.

She hasn't been sleeping long, her breathing still shallow and features not as relaxed as they could be.

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"Yeah."

She looks down and curls her fingers around his.

Their hands are underwater; her jaw tenses as she closes her eyes.

He gives her hand a light squeeze, then turns and wraps his arm around her, pulling her against his chest.

I'm so sorry, Kate.

She leans into the solid warmth of his torso, tucking her head beneath his chin.

She can't breathe, eyes and nose and throat burning with the tears she's holding back.

"Let me."

She wraps an arm around his waist while her free hand rests flat against his chest.

"Let me do it, please."

His throat constricts and he holds her little tighter.

"Kate, I can't. I won't let you take a risk like that."

"Yes, you can."

She nods against his neck and swallows hard.

"It's not a risk because he doesn't have anything against me."

"No, Kate. He's got no problem with you, an' we gotta keep it that way."

His hand moves to her cheek and he brushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You gotta stay away from him. He can't find out that you an' I are together."

"He won't know," she says, the side of her throat tingling from his gentle touch.

"I'll tell him it's a favor to Katherine or something. We'll figure it out."

He pulls back and looks down at her.

"No. I'm not lettin' you do this. You stay away from him, there's no tellin' what he might get in his head t'do. I'll get the gun back to him, you just-- just stay out of it. Please."

His features are firm and there's no way he's changing his mind or compromising on this. He won't put her in danger or expose her to that man again.

You can't stop me.

She bites the inside of her cheek, dropping her eyes to one of the buttons on his shirt.

She knows the gun is somewhere in his room -- in the closet or a dresser drawer, maybe.

She circles a button with the pad of her thumb.

"Okay."

He studies her, and for a moment he's not sure she means it.

Pushing aside that doubt he pulls her close again.

"Okay. I just want you safe, Kate. I'll take care of this, an' I'll be careful."

He plants a light kiss against her hair, and pulls in a slow breath.

Ignoring the twist in her stomach, she nods against his collarbone before lifting her head to look at him.

"I want you safe, sheriff."

Rising on her bare toes, she presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"I know. It's gonna be alright."

He looks down at her when she looks at him and he can see the concern and tears behind her eyes. He's promised her things are going to be okay so many times now, he wouldn't blame her for not believing him.

"I got three days to get it to him, so don't -- let's not worry 'bout it now."

She can't help a chuckle -- soft and humorless, but not unkind.

"I always worry," she says gently, stroking his cheek with the backs of her fingers.

"It's because I like you so much."

"I know you do, an' I'm sorry for that."

It's something he was afraid of since the first time he kissed her.

Trouble has a way of always finding him, and he knows how unfair it is to burden her with it all.

"You put up with a lot from me."

Her fingers still.

"Hey."

She shifts, pressing her body even closer against his.

"It's not 'putting up' with you."

He nods and wraps his arms around her hips; he closes his eyes and takes comfort in her closeness.

God, I'm glad you're here.

"I love you, Kate."

Her fingers thread into his hair.

"I love you, too."

Her eyes open and she glances toward Boo's closed door; her lips move to his jaw.

"Come to bed, okay?"

His chin tilts slightly, then he brushes his lips against her cheek.

"Okay."

She takes his hand, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze before leading them across the suite.

It's been so long since they've done anything but fall into an exhausted sleep together -- since they came into Milliways the morning after Bill's surprise party and found out about Boo, Kate belatedly realizes when they reach the bed.

Her fingers work their way down the buttons on his shirtfront and she presses her lips against his collarbone.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper."

Head bowed, he watches her, trying to focus on her and this moment instead of everything else happening in their lives.

When her mouth meets his skin his eyes close and he lifts his hand to her shoulder. His fingertips brush her neck lightly; it's been awhile since they've had anything more than a few tender moments before being taken by mostly restless sleep.

"It's okay. We both been dealin' with a lot of stress, an' everything's a mess."

He pushes hair off her shoulder and slips his arm around her, palm settling between her shoulderblades.

"None of this has been easy."

"It's still no excuse."

Her hands map his torso while the heat of his touch warms her back through her thin cotton tank.

"I didn't mean to snap like that."

Easing his shirt from one shoulder, her mouth traces a slow line across the exposed skin.

His breath shudders slightly when her mouth moves across his skin. Smoothing his palm down her back he trails the fingertips of his other hand along her arm; shaking his head lightly.

"S'okay. I'm sorry for when I've lost it. I know you're just worried 'cause you care. I care 'bout you, too, an' I just -- I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't wanna lose you."

Goosebumps prickle beneath his fingers.

"You're not losing me."

Her lips leave his skin; she tips her head to look at him, eyes tracing the shadowed planes and contours of his face.

Looking at her, and hearing her soft words, he manages a faint, warm smile.

He nods in reply, bending to press a kiss to her forehead, then her cheek.

His hand on her back slips beneath her shirt, and his palm runs slowly over her warm skin.

"You won't lose me, either."

Her eyes close.

We don't know that.

She nods, swallowing thickly, forcing herself to focus on this and now.

Her arms wrap around his neck and she pulls him close for slow, deep kiss.

By the time their clothes are out of the way and they're between the sheets, her breathing is noticeably shallow; she's having to remind herself to swallow every sound that wants to escape her lungs so they won't wake Boo.

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