[[ milliways, upstairs ]]

[justdidntseeit]

[ "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.

Comments

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Smile widening, he rests his forehead against hers, fingertips playing lightly against her ribs.

"Not bad yourself."

As is evidenced by the way his heart is still beating just a little too fast against his chest.

[justdidntseeit]

She shivers at the gentle touch and kisses the corner of that smile.

(Her heart rate matches his.)

"Thank you."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"For what? This?"

He tightens his arm around her, feeling a different, a better, kind of exhaustion than the past few weeks, starting to creep into his muscles and bones.

[justdidntseeit]

"For -- "

For this. For not letting your temper get the best of you like I did.

"Yeah. This."

Her mouth finds his ear.

"Everything."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Mmm. Thank you, Kate."

For everything.

His hand starts a lazy motion up and down her back and he's getting dangerously close to falling asleep as they are. He wants to hold onto this moment a little longer, though, keep her in his arms like this for awhile more.

[justdidntseeit]

Her smile widens; she arches languidly into the touch like a sated cat.

"No getting sappy on me. I won't want to move."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Who says I want you to?"

Trailing a hand up her back, he threads his fingers through her hair, stroking lightly.

[justdidntseeit]

"You're doing it again," she teases, breathing a laugh into the side of his neck.

She'll move in a minute. Clean-up can wait that long.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Doin' what?"

He turns his face into her hair to hide a grin.

"Don't know what you're talkin' 'bout."

[justdidntseeit]

She almost tells him he's the worst liar at the end of the universe, but talking takes too much effort when her muscles have melted and they're wrapped in each other like this.

So she settles for nuzzling his jaw for the moment, and when she finally sits up and eases off him, it's with a soft, reluctant sigh.

"Want some water while I'm up?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He echoes the sigh, letting her go and settling his hand on his chest, running the other hand through his hair.

"Yeah, thanks."

[justdidntseeit]

"No thanking."

She brushes her lips against his cheek and pads toward the bathroom on silent feet; when she returns a few minutes later, she has a bottle of water and a couple of wet wipes for him in tow.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He gives her another smile instead of saying 'thank you' again and takes what she offers.

Letting out a quick breath of a laugh, he jumps a little in the bed as he starts cleaning up.

"Wet wipes're cold."

[justdidntseeit]

She's chuckling as the wet wipes go in the wastebasket and she slides between the sheets.

"Bet I can warm you up, sheriff."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He lifts his arm to go around her shoulders, inviting her closer.

"C'mere, then, an' let's see."

[justdidntseeit]

She curls against him, fitting herself along his side. Skin sliding against skin, she hooks one leg around his and drapes an arm across his stomach.

(The rational part of her brain knows she [they] should get dressed, especially if Boo wakes early and crawls into bed with them, but god, she's missed moments like this, and she's so comfortable right now ... )

She closes her eyes and nuzzles into the warm curve of his neck while her hand skates down his stomach to trace the crease of his thigh.

"Better?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

His skin prickles under her touch and he turns his head and presses a kiss to her temple, holding her close against him.

"Much."

He'll get dressed in awhile, but right now he's feeling relaxed for the first time in a long time, and he wants to hold onto her like this for just a bit longer.

[justdidntseeit]

She presses even closer, as if crawling into his skin could make them both forget everything waiting beyond the bed.

Her thumb circles his hip bone while the image of Ramon's gun in Bill's room burns itself into her mind's eye.

It's probably in the closet. Maybe the dresser.

And she has a key.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He wraps his arms around her tightly, using her closeness to push away thoughts of everything else.

I love you, Kate.

In a bit they'll both get dressed, and then they'll return to bed, and he'll hold her past the point of both of them falling asleep.