Together Again
By
Rick was just getting ready to go into the shower when the phone rang.
"Hello"
"I need a favor," his favorite San Diego Police Lieutenant said.
He smiled, "Sure, what?
"My car had a problem on the way home, I need a ride to Cecelia's tonight. Can you pick me up?" Abby Marsh asked.
“What time? I'm just going into the shower now.” He told her.
“Six thirty”
“Sounds good.”
“Thanks Rick.”
“No problem, on the way as you know.”
“Bye”
Cecelia and A.J. had made a great dinner and they all enjoyed it.
It was the after dinner talk that worried Rick. His mother had kept Abby laughing with stories of the boys' exploits.
“You mean even at 4 years old A.J. was following rick into these situations?” Abby asked.
“Yes,” she said with a laugh.
“I think we can change this conversation now mom.” Rick says. “Abby I know this is early since this is still summer, but what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“I have 10 days off and am flying to Denver to spend it with my family.”
“That’s great. It’s been a a while since you’ve been home to visit.” A.J. said.
“Why?” She questioned.
Cecelia smiled, then looked at her oldest son, it had been his idea, but he didn’t say anything.
“Rick and I were discussing it the other day, Thanksgiving that is, and inviting you if you didn't have any other plans.”
Abbey smiled, and looked to Cecelia, “That would have been very nice, thanks for thinking of me.”
“So do you have plans to get some fishing in while your there?” A.J. asked
"Oh yes, I am really looking forward to it.” She told them
A.J. and Cecelia tell Abby about Rick’s attempt at fly fishing 25 years ago, much to his embarrassment, then Cecelia remembers they have pictures of the event, and has A.J. get the album of that vacation.
Abby is amazed to see the sheer joy on the faces of the boys in the pictures, she realizes that she has never seen Rick that happy or carefree despite his lackadaisical attitudes toward life now, in these pictures he was innocent, now he was experienced, had seen the worst man could do to man and survived it, but not unscathed. Looking through the book she gained a new perspective on the two brothers. She was surprised to see him blush when they got to the picture of a 12 year old Rick mooning the camera. The end of the book was predominately A.J., but there were occasional pictures of Rick, most apparently sent home from places he was on the road. But in the very back there were some loose pictures, she looked though them. Holding one up of Rick leaning against his Harley in 1967, A.J. had a similar one hanging on his wall at home, but this one Rick was turned a bit and you could see the sideburns and the pony tail that hung half way down the back.
“Look at that mustache and those sideburns, and the hair. Oh my god.” Abby commented, then she noticed his eyes, they were centered on the camera, shining, but full of emotion. The next was a picture of Rick from boot camp, all done up in camouflage, again staring at the camera, the look similar to the one with the bike, but no hair and clean shaven. She looked at him, he was just watching.
A.J. and Cecelia start clearing the dishes, leaving Rick to narrate the pictures.
Rick looked at it and said, “I forgot about that one.” He put his hand out for it and looked at the back, '1968, just out of boot. So young.” was his comment then he shook his head and handed the picture back.
The were a few more pictures of him in various camps, in all of them he still had the short hair cut, but had let his moustache grow back in. One near the end really drew her attention. Rick in field uniform a heavy pack with an M‑16 slung over his shoulder, cigarette dangling from his lips. Not a posed shot, he was looking back toward the camera, like he was on his way out of camp. The blue eyes looked at the camera, nothing like the earlier looks there was no emotion in his look.
“One of the kids was a photography nut, he, ah, always had some kind of camera with him, once he even had a movie camera.” Rick smiled. “It was against regulations but I didn’t see the harm.” He picked up some of them and looked at them. Pointed to someone in the back ground, “That’s Ray, he was a navy medic, he was crazier than we were.” He shook his head and put the pictures back in the pile. “Davis sent these all here to mom when he got home.”
“Why are they all just sitting in the back of the book?” Abby questioned.
Rick snorted, “Mom wants me to go through them and label them.”
“Why haven’t you?”
Rick just sighed and shook his head.
The next few shots were of the base some of the men, kids really, when she looked close. The last picture in the pile was a chopper, with a big red cross on it, silhouette in the setting sun. She flips it over and looks at the date, she reads it to him.
He nods, she looks at the picture again, then back to the one dressed in field uniform, same date. “Is that date significant.”
Rick nods, then says quietly “It was the day I died.”
She looks at him, he meets her eye.
Cecelia comes in having heard her question but not Rick’s answer. “That’s the day you were wounded, wasn’t it honey? Then shipped home to finish out your enlistment.”
“Yeah Mom, it was.” He told his mother.
Abby knew she'd getting nothing else from him until they were alone, even then he may not say another word.
She closed the book, then noticed the time. "I have to meet a snitch soon. Rick, I hate to imposes but...”
“Yeah I’ll give you a ride, “ he said. He needed the air.
They left a few minutes later.
Once they got in the truck Rick asked "Where you meeting this snitch?"
“The Kashmiri bar, a few blocks from my place, so you can drop me off there, unless you want to come along.'
Rick looks at her slyly, “Are you asking me along?'
She sighed “I wouldn't mind the company,“ she admitted.
“You mean like a 'date'?” He asked.
“No like as a cover, I usually go alone, the regulars must all think I’m...,” she let that trail off then said “So maybe this once I'd like some company.”
“Like a date.' Rick stated.
She just sighed.
Rick laughed then said, “Sure I'll go along as cover.”
“Thank you.”
“Can we pretend it’s a date?” he asked knowing he was egging her on.
“Rick,” she warned.
He laughs again.
They rode a few blocks
“Yes, if you don't tell anyone.” she allowed.
“What and ruin your rep, not me.”
“Oh, what rep?”
“You don't date cops, which doesn't really cover me you know,” he pointed out.
“Or men I work with,” she added.
“Oh, thanks for the clarification. Was that added before or after you met A.J. and me?” He questioned.
“Did you harass Lt Brown like this.'
Rick thought about it, “No, but he never asked me on a date as cover for his work.”
“It’s not a date,” she insisted.
Rick smiled.
When they walked into the bar Rick held the door for her and guided her to a seat at the bar.
She was very impressed with his behavior, he acted like he was really a guy interested in her. He was even able to keep he conversation going. The only drawback was he ordered her drinks she didn't want, and then insisting she would blow their cover if she didn't at least try it.
She was surprised that she wove a bit when she stood to go talk to her snitch, under the guise of going to the ladies room. The info she got was almost exactly what she needed, so when she did get back to Rick she was glad to down the last of the Alabama slammer and get them out of the bar.
They walked back to her apartment building.
Rick loosened his tie along the way, and undid two of the buttons on the dress shirt. Commenting “I cannot understand how A.J. can wear these thing everyday.”
Abby laughs.
He walks her all the way to her door. She had it unlocked and pushed open a couple of inches when she turned back to him, he made no move to go any further.
She smiled, “You can be a gentleman.” She remarked.
“I thought I’d surprise you.”
“Yes, you sometimes you do. I had a good time tonight Rick, thanks, even if you did try to get me drunk”
“Not bad for a first date,” he said with a smile.
She groaned in frustration “Rick.”
He laughed his little laugh and said “Goodnight Abigail,” and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, she kissed his too.
Then as he pulled away she put her hand to the cheek she kissed and wiped the lipstick off.
Rick is surprised by the gesture, and the fact her hand lingered there, she was watching his face.
They were too close together, but neither changed position, except for her hand which she slowly withdrew.
She pushed the door open behind her. “Why don't you come in for some coffee,” she suggested.
Coffee was not on his mind but he followed her anyway.
Rick closed the door behind himself.
She turns to him, "I'll go start it, you shouldn't drive home if your as drunk as I am."
He just nods, he knew he wasn’t real drunk, buzzed, not drunk, he’d just had a few beers and couple, or three shots, she had been drinking mixed drinks, the kind that didn’t taste like they had three of four liquors in them.
He watched her go to what he presumes is the kitchen, he had never been in her apartment before. He goes over to some shelves that have pictures on them. He smiles looking through them, they show a happy childhood. Lots of family participation.
"You won't find one of me mooning the camera if that’s what your looking for. Though I know my brother's did." Abby said coming up behind him, she slid her hand up his back to his shoulder.
He turned his head, and she saw he was blushing.
"Your blushing again, that's twice in one night. I had never seen you blush before, kinda cute," she observed then put a finger to the neck of his shirt. "How far down does it go." she asked looking down.
Rick doesn't say anything, she looked at his face. They made eye contact. They had crossed a line, gotten too close physically, and they realized it at the same moment.
Rick swallowed, he knew he should back up a step, but he didn't. He lifted a hand to her face, he wanted to touch her, to kiss her.
Her eyes then focus on his hand, then when he touches her she looks at his eyes. Not pulling away, not saying anything.
He runs his thumb along her jaw line then her cheek then into her hair cupping the back of her head. He brought his lips down to hers, and kissed her. He was expecting pain, from where ever she could hit him, but instead, it takes a moment but she reacts to him positively, kissing him back. He keeps kissing her, not going for more yet, getting to know her lips, how she feels.
Her hands start at his waist and work their way up over his chest, then to his shoulders where she eases his coat off, her arms lock behind his neck. He moves his hands enough to drop the coat, without letting go of her, instead of putting his hand back around her waist he drops one to her butt, the other hand slides along her back pulling her closer, he can feel her breathing.
Rick is keeping an eye on her watching her face as they kiss, she still has her eyes closed. Then he breaks off with one of the kisses and she looks at him, he starts kissing her lightly along her jaw, then kisses her neck. His hands finding her way up under her shirt. He feels her shiver, he looks at her again. Then kisses her lips, his tongue exploring.
One of her hands comes down from around his neck and she starts to undo the buttons on his shirt. He breaks off the kisses and looks at her.
She starts to kiss his chest, one hand running her nails down to his belt line. She looks him in the eye and slips her hand down along the outside of his slacks, she strokes him through the material a few times.
He closed his eyes enjoying it, but still thinking they were going too far too fast, but knew if he stopped it now, it would never, ever, happen again.
“Stay,” she whispered.
Any resolve he had to leave deserted him right then.
The next few kisses where even more forceful, finally he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and lifted her legs to lock behind his back. He headed for the bedroom.
Before he opened his eye he knew he wasn't on the boat. He kept his eyes closed and thought about it, he remembered the dinner at his Mother’s, giving Abby a ride home, the going to the bar with her, walking her home, the kiss. “Oh my god” he breathed, his eye flashed open.
He was up and out of the bed before he had time to really think about it. He looked around found his clothes and started to dress. He picked up a few other things, then went to the living room, where he found his shirt, he put it on and left.
He thought about how he would face her, and anyone else she told about this, even his mother. He hadn't intended to get her trashed, he just wanted her to loosen up and relax, she'd had a bad month. But no, he got her drunk and slept with her. Talking about breaking all the rules.
He was lucky at work that day, he and A.J. were tailing two different people for the same case, or else A.J. would have noticed that something was up with him. Then when he did go back to the office he had the pictures they needed to make their client happy. Which made A.J. very happy and kept him from questioning his brother's pensive mood.
Rick had just finished dinner, and was in the small galley washing the dishes when there was a knock at his door.
He was surprised to see that it was Abby, a not pissed looking Abby. He unlocked it and let her in. "Hi."
"Hi," she replied then came in without making eye contact. She looked around the place, "Not interrupting anything am I?"
"No, just cleaning up from a dinner for one." He closed the slider and locked it. He noticed his palms were sweating, he dried them on his shirt.
She turned back to him, and held out his jacket. "Ah, you forgot this this morning."
"Oh," he reached for the tweed coat. "Thanks," he took it and draped it over one of the chairs.
"Oh and this to," She handed him his tie.
He reached for it and their hands touched. They looked at each other, their eyes connecting for the first time that night.
He looked away first, "Thanks," he took the tie and draped it over the jacket. He took a deep breath, "Abigail, I didn't plan or mean to ...."
"Get me drunk?" she asked.
"Well, technically I did want to get you buzzed, get you to relax." he explained. "What I did not plan on was..."
"Kissing me?" she asked flatly.
He looked at her, "Yeah, that was spontaneous."
"Uh huh."
"And if I recall it ended up being mutual, you were right there with me." he said. "You didn’t push me away."
Her expression was neutral, giving him no clue as to what was going on in her mind. "I know." she said.
"You asked me to stay, later you said you needed me," he said quietly. "I couldn't walk away at that point. I wanted you too much," He admitted.
"Yes, I did." she admitted just as quietly. "You were drunk too?" she stated.
"Yes," he admitted to himself and her.
"Would it have happened if you weren't?"
"The kiss definitely, the foreplay probably, the sex......" He shrugged his shoulders.
She looked at him. "Did we actually do it? I remember the kissing, and the foreplay," she admitted to him. She did remember more, the feel of his body on hers, the intensity of their reactions to each other.
Rick turned his head toward her and nodded not believing she didn’t remember, "Yeah we did." He told her.
She pursed her lips and nodded. "Did we use any..... " That she couldn’t remembered and that now a days was the most important part of sex.
"Protection? Yes."
She nodded again. "Good because I’m.....” she let that trail off too.
He looked at her, “Yeah, I know, you told me.” She’d told him she wasn’t taking any kind of contraceptive.
It was her turn to blush. Then she observed, “So obviously you carry some."
He nodded. "Always do, not just last night," He told her so she wouldn't think it was part if his plan.
She looked at him, and stared at his face for a few moments.
She took a deep breath, "This was just a one time thing." She didn’t know what she wanted him to say to that. She said. "It happened because we were drunk." She looked at him, "No one else ever has to find out about it."
Rick didn't say anything, just looked at her.
"Right?" she asked.
He still didn't say anything, he was watching her eyes.
"Rick, no one else has to know, right?" she took a step toward him and put a hand on his chest.
He looked down at the hand that had been all over him earlier in the morning.
Realizing that she shouldn't have touched him, she started to pull her hand back, but his came up and caught it.
He lifted it to his mouth and kissed the palm, “Do you remember what you did to me with this hand this morning?” he asked, not expecting an answer, then he kissed her wrist, then her forearm.
She did, and tried to pull it back. But his grip was too strong.
He looked at her, kissed the crook of her elbow and let it go.
She breathed a sigh of relief, and looked away from him.
He stepped closer to her, he lifted his hand to her chin, and turned her face back to him.
With all her years of police training she knew a couple dozen ways to bring a man down especially one who was in no way trying to protect himself, but she could not make herself move an inch to get away from him.
He brought his mouth down to hers. She responded right away, surprising him. She kissed him back with force, hungrily, deeply. He went with it, giving her what she wanted, getting a lot in return. Then he brought one hand to the back of her head, and into her hair. Carefully he lifted his face from hers, holding her hair. She glared at him.
"You remember it don't you?" He asked her.
She looked him in the eye "Yes." she admitted.
"Do you want it to be a one time thing?"
She carefully shook her head. “No” she whispered.
Rick smiled, "Good, neither do I." He told her, then kissed her again.
One hand pulling her closer the other exploring her body. He had his hands up her shirt in short order and unhooking her bra before he even had her shirt off. She did not bother unbuttoning his, she just untucked it then pulled it up, they broke off the kiss long enough to get it over his head. They then got hers off and left the bra behind with it. As she worked his belt he walked her backwards to his bedroom.
As he closed the door she whispered in his ear, “I remember you did the most amazing thing with your tongue.” Then, smiling, she back away from him and went to one side of the bed. She pulled open the drawer of the night stand she reached in and pulled out a handful of packets letting all but one drop to the top.
She came back to him and handed it to him.
He took it with a smile and tossed it on to the pillows. “We’ll get there eventually.” He told her and started to kiss her again.
Then they ended up on the bed and he went to work getting her out of her pants.
He felt her move out of his embrace, and he opened his eye to see her gathering the sheet and sitting up on the edge of the bed. Rick sighed and pushed himself upright to sit back against the headboard. He ran his hand up her back and rubbed her neck.
She initially leaned back into his hand, then stiffened up. She turned and looked at him. “We have to establish some ground rules.”
“Okay.” he agreed.
“This is just between us. No one else can know.”
“Yes”
“It stay loose and informal, no getting serious, it’s just sex.” She tell him.
Sighing he nods.
“It stays out of the office, even if we are alone together.”
“Okay.” He agreed then asked “So it’s not over?”
She looks him in the eye, “No, it’s not over.” She ran a hand up his leg. “We’ve barely taken the edge off.” She tells him with a smile.
Rick smiled wickedly, “I was hoping you’d say that.”
She smiled, looking down “Yes, I can see that.” she observed. “And I can do something about that for you.”
“Good,” he said then smiled as she did.
She left at five a.m., Rick saw her to the door then went back to bed, getting a few hours of sleep before going to the office.
They were together the next three nights then parted ways for a few nights, he had four nights of stake outs and then they got together again. It settled down to them meeting at her place, at least three nights a week.
A month into their clandestine relationship they were at her place, relaxing on the couch. Abby was trailing her nails along his chest, tracing patterns in the hair.
“A.J. came into the office today.”
“Mmm.”
“I was surprised to see just him.”
“Mmm”
“He said you were seeing someone about some truck parts.
“I was.” He said, thinking maybe she missed him.
“He wasn’t convinced. He thinks your seeing someone.”
Rick chuckled, “If he only knew.” He ran his hand through her hair. “Did you keep a straight face?”
“Barely” she admitted..
“Did he elaborate?” Rick asked.
“Not at first, but I nudged him along.”
“And?”
She smiled, “He says your too content, you haven’t come in hung over, you haven’t been bar crawling with Carlos or Max.. You haven’t talked about any dates.”
Rick sighed, “Well, yeah, that last one would be a big clue.”
“Why?”
“Cause I do generally tell him about my late night adventures.” He admitted to her.
She sat up and looked at him, “You kiss and tell?”
“Not all, just the basic stuff, he is not ready for it all.”
She laughed.
“Did he sound suspicious?” He asked
“No, just curious.”
He thought about it. “I can’t start a cover too soon, he might remember his conversation with you about it.”
“True but he did something I think you’ll find funny.”
“What did he do, ask you out?”
“Yes.”
“You should go, he’d take you to a nice restaurant, have some wine, go dancing. It would be a nice night out for you.” Rick said.
“No” she said shaking her head.
“Is that what you told him?”
“Yes.”
“You could take him to the Kashmiri,” he suggested. “But I don’t think he’d get you drunk then take you home and ravish you.”
She laughed then, turned and put her chin on his chest, “Speaking of ravishing, are you done for the night or are you rested up for the next go round?”
“Ready whenever you are,” he told her then proved it.
Rick carried one of A.J.’s bags and put it in the so called trunk of the Camaro. Then went back into the house. He went over to the stairs.
“Your going to be late!” he yelled up the stairs.
A.J. came down the stairs straightening his tie. “I am not.” He looked at Rick and said “No parties.”
“A.J.”
“Promise me, NO Parties, all the neighbors have the police on speed dial.” A.J. told his brother.
Rick held his hands up, “All right, no parties.... does a stewardess count as a party? Maybe a pilot too?”
“No loud music, no late night crashes.”
“Screams okay?” Rick asked with a smile to see his brothers reaction. It was a good one, A.J. whipped around and glared at him.
“No parties.”
“No parties.” Rick agreed and picked up the other bag. He definitely had plans for the weekend and they involved a SD Police Lieutenant, his boat and one of the small off shore islands. He was smiling as he followed A.J. out to the car.
A.J. turned and saw the smile. “I’m gonna call Abby and have her check up on you.”
Rick smiled wider, “Have fun in L.A. A.J.”
“Thanks, I think.” A.J. as he climbed into the car.
As A.J. drove away Rick went in and locked the place up. Yup he had plans and they did not include A.J.’s place.
He was halfway to the boat when he realized he had a big sappy grin on his face.
The light was blinking on his answering machine when he got to the boat, after listening to the message his smile disappeared.
It was from Abby, “Call me at the office when you get in,” was all it said, but since she was supposed to be here in half an hour it did not bode well for their weekend.
“Damn.” He said then picked up the phone and dialed her office.
“Lt. Marsh’s office, Nixon speaking.” Nixon’s voice said.
“Hey Nixon, it’s Rick, is Abby around?”
“Yeah, but she’s busy.”
“Okay, just tell her I called.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.” Rick said then hung up.
He looked around the boat and decided to do some cleaning. They hadn’t met here that often since anyone from his family could stop by. Even this weekend could be risky since his mother was still in town. He was looking under the cushions on the couch when the slider opened, he looked up and smiled.
“Don’t you ever lock this door?” Abby asked.
“When I need too,” he replied standing up.
She closed the door and locked it.
“Like now?” she asked
“Like now,” he said approaching her, he stopped a foot away from her, then leaned closer, he could just catch the subtle nuance of her perfume. He kissed her lightly the said, “You called.”
“Yes, and you called back.” she said and returned a kiss.
“Yes I did.” he agreed. “Now that that is settled, what’s up?”
She sighed, “I have to cancel tonight and part of tomorrow.” she told him.
He nodded, “Not the whole weekend?”
She smiled “No,” then she kissed him. “Not the whole weekend.”
“Why?” he asked, curious.
“Why not the whole weekend or why do I have to cancel part of it?”
“Why do you have to cancel?” He clarified, kissing her neck lightly.
“My sister and brother-in-law are in town. He just got a job out here in San Diego County. They are going to be house hunting for most the weekend, but want to get together for dinner tonight and then my sister and I are doing brunch tomorrow.” She told him, feeling herself melting into his arms. Oh how he did this so easily to her, she thought. He had no right to being such a good lover.
He brushed a lock of hair from her face, then kissed her lips.
“I picked the restaurant just on the other side of the Marina, you can meet me after brunch and we can leave then,” she suggested.
He smiled, “What time are you meeting tonight?”
“At seven for dinner at their hotel.”
He looked at his watch. “We have time,” he commented then kissed her hard, one hand sliding down her back then broke it off, backing up a step, then three more.
“You can’t start with a kiss like that then leave it.” she complained.
There was a knock at the sliding door.
Rick unlocked it and opened it, he looked at Abby, then at the doorway, and said “Hi, Mom.”
Cecelia Simon stepped into the room. “Hi Rick,” then she stopped short, surprised to see Abby.
“Hi Cecelia,” Abby said.
“Hi Abby,” Cecelia said.
“What’s up Mom?” Rick asked.
“I was in the neighborhood, figured I’d stop to see if you were home.”
“Yeah?”
“I wanted to know if A.J. got off okay.” His mother asked.
Rick smiled. “I helped load the luggage, and waved good bye to him ninety minutes ago.” He said going into the galley.
“Where did he go?” Abby asked.
“Los Angeles,” Cecelia told her.
“Why?”
Rick snorted. “Some conference. I didn’t pay attention to what he said.”
Cecelia shook her head, “It’s the Western Conference of Private Investigators Association.”
Rick turned, “That’s this weekend?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
Abby shook her head. “On that note, Rick thanks for getting that info for me. Cecelia, I’ll call you next week. Bye” and she was out the door.
Rick got a beer from the fridge, “Would you like anything Mom?” He asked.
“No dear, I have to be going too. I have a dinner date.”
“Good for you Mom.”
“And you?” she asked.
“Got plans.” He said with a smile.
“That stewardess?”
“She is a pilot, Mom.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Good for you Rick.” She kissed his cheek. “I have to get going.”
“Bye Mom.” He said. He left the door open and waited drinking his beer. After a couple of minutes he pulled the white wine from the fridge and took down a glass. He poured the wine and put the bottle back. He picked up the glass and turned.
“Thank you,” Abby said taking the glass, she took a sip.
“Your welcome,” he picked up his beer and tapped her glass.
“That was too close.” she said. “How did you know she was there?”
“Galley window was open, I could hear her heels.” He told her. Then walked around her and closed the slider, thumbed the lock and closed the blinds.
He turned back to her and approached her, his hands going to her waist. “Now, where were we?” he asked, then smiled “Oh yeah, a kiss.” He kissed her.
She smiled and kissed him back.
“Abigail, It’s six thirty.” Rick said after catching sight of the bedside clock.
“What? Shit.” And she tossed the sheet off and jumped out of bed. “Oh man, I need to use your shower.”
Rick waved that way, then he sat up and leaned back against the headboard.
She gathered up her clothes which were strewn about the room and mixed with his. She stopped and looked around some more, then through what was in her arms. “I can’t find my bra.”
He assessed her and said, “Go without. Believe me you should be proud of those.”
She gave him a look, then looked down, “Thank you, I think, but no, I need my bra.” she insisted.
“Take your shower, I’ll find it.” He said.
She disappeared into the head with a “thank you.”
He got out of bed and donned a pair of boxers and started the search. It was a successful, unfortunately too successful. He tapped on the door to the head but the shower was already running. So he went in and tapped on the shower door.
She looked out at him over the top.
“What color was it?” he asked her.
“I don’t remember.” Then she gave him a questioning look. “Just how many did you find?”
He tilted his head and opened his mouth to answer.
“No, don’t tell me. I don’t need to know.” She grr’ed and asked, “Can’t you remember? You took it off me.”
“I wasn’t paying attention to that.” he said.
“See, and now we have a test.” She told him.
He laughed his silly laugh.
“Rick, just find my panties, they will match,” she told him then started to rinse the soap off.
“Really?” he asked. “Is that a woman thing or just you?”
“A lot of women do it.” she told him, he obviously didn’t peruse the Victoria’s Secret catalog.
“Hmm.” He pondered that bit of information. “I’ll have to pay more attention to those things.”
Abby stopped and looked at him again, “Find my underwear, leave my bra and get out.” she said then ducked under the water again.
“Yes, ma’am.” He said then did as he had been told and left the proper bra with the rest of her clothes.
She was out a few minutes later, brush in hand, towel wrapped around her. “Do you have a hair dryer?”
He gave her a look then laughed at her request.
She groaned and went back into the head. Five minutes later she was out again, her hair pulled into a pony tail, then with a quick kiss for him, she was gone out the door.
Rick got dressed then tried to figure out what he was going to do for dinner.
His phone rang.
“Hello”
“Rick, it’s Nixon.”
“What’s up?”
“Poker”
“Where?”
“My place.”
“When?”
“Eight o’clock, bring beer.”
“I’ll be there.”
He went in and took a shower, then went on to get something quick for dinner and get beer, then on to Nixon’s to play poker with half the guys his lover worked with.
He’d won a few hands, lost a few hands, now he was taking a break, standing on the balcony, enjoying a cigar.
“Hey Rick?” someone from inside called.
“What?” he called back over his shoulder.
“We are conducting a survey.”
“Yeah on what?”
“Lieutenant Marsh.”
Rick smiled to himself, “Oh, this should be good,” he said quietly, then went in.
He took his seat at the table. “Yeah, what’s the question.”
“Have you ever done it?” Harrison asked.
“Done what?” he asked, surprised by the bluntness of the question, and the fact he could say yes to many of the more sexual intonations of that question especially with Abby, and just a few hours before.
“Asked her out?” Nixon clarified.
“Oh,” he had to think about it. “Ah, no.” Thinking that she had always cut him off before he could ask the whole thing, and in the past six weeks he hadn’t bothered.
A couple of the guys looked at him doubtfully.
Harrison said, “You have never asked her out?”
He shook his head. “Thought about it a few times, but no, never have.”
“Why not? I thought you liked a challenge.”
“Oh I do, but there are some challenges that, even I don’t want.” Rick told them.
“Like trying to defrost her. Ice queen.” Tabor said.
Rick just smiled, “No, she’s not my type.” He had already had a dislike of Tabor, now well it was bordering on hate.
Nixon turned and looked at him. “Not your type? She is a woman, and she is breathing.”
Rick shook his head, “She is way above my standard.”
They all laughed.
Rick smiled. “Come on lets play some more poker, “ he told them.
Rick won the last three hands then went home. He was unlocking the door when there was a noise above him, he looked up.
Abby looked down at him from the roof deck. “It’s about time you got here, I was ready to call it a night.”
He smiled. “Yeah right.” He said as she left the rail to come down to the deck.
She left at seven to go back to her place to get ready for brunch with her sister.
Rick slept in until the phone rang at eight.
“Hello” he mumbled.
“Is your stewardess still there?” A.J. asked.
“Pilot, and no, what do you want A.J.?”
“Just thought I’d let you know I made it to L.A. okay.”
“Good, how is the conference?”
“Good, Elizabeth and Sam are here, they asked about you.”
“Tell ‘em hi.”
“I did.”
“Good, anything else A.J.?”
“No, I was just checking up to make sure you weren’t at the house.”
“I’m not”
“Thank you.”
“Bye A.J.” Rick said.
“Bye Rick.”
Rick hung up, then decided to get up and get dressed.
Abby saw him sitting on the sea wall at the far end of the parking lot when she came out of the restaurant. She watched him. He smiled to a couple of people. She asked herself why she was afraid to let people know about them. He was a good man, she could do a hell of a lot worse. He had no problem with her being a cop, unlike most of the guys she’d been out with.
She felt the smile coming back to her face, the smile her sister had noticed then commented about earlier.
“So who’s the guy in your life?” Marianne asked.
“What?” Abby asked, she had nothing about a guy. She’d been listening to her sister talk about her husband Jack, and something about his new job. She’d been looking out the window and seen Rick walk by. He’d glanced in the window but kept going, obviously not seeing her seated behind the potted plants.
“That smile,” Marianne said. “It’s back. That kind of look can only be caused by love.”
Abby laughed at her and took a drink of water.
“So, tell me about him?” Marianne said. She had left home before Abby was very old and never got to be a sister to her, missed out on the things sisters are supposed to do.
“There’s nothing to tell.” Abby said, not looking her in the eye. She did not love him she told herself.
“So there is someone special. Tell me the dirt.” Marianne insisted.
“No,” Abby said, looking for their waitress to pay the bill so she could leave.
“Come on, is he older or younger?”
Abby sighed, no waitress in sight. “Older.”
“How much?”
“Six or seven years.” she guessed, she didn’t know exactly.
“Tall or short?”
“Taller than me, but not much.”
Marianne smiled. “So you can have sex standing up.”
Abby’s mouth dropped open.
Marianne went along without confirmation. “Is he good in bed?”
Abby just stared at her.
“What? You’ve never discussed boyfriends with women friends?” Marianne asked.
Abby realized she hadn’t had too many female friends, except Cecelia, then she smiled, occasionally the topic of men would come up and she had been amazed by her friend’s frankness on discussing sex. But discussing Rick with anyone was not what she wanted to do. She sighed.
“Yes, we talk, occasionally but, not yet it’s too ....” she was going to say too soon, but that would imply there was a future between them, when that was not what it had started for. But could it, he’d never said anything, he had agreed with her stipulations regarding the relationship.
The waitress arrived at the table with their bill, Marianne handed her her card to put it on.
Abby started to protest, but her sister waved her off. But it got them off the topic of her ‘boyfriend’.
A few minutes later with the bill settled, Abby left the tip and they went out. They said their byes and Marianne went toward the ladies room, then she turned back to her sister.
“Abby?” she called.
Abby paused at the door.
“Is he?” Marianne asked with a wicked smiled.
Abby rolled her eyes then said “Very,” and she went out the door.
Now she watched him as he just scanned the parking lot, then he turned and saw her. He hopped off the wall, brushing his butt off.
She came down the stairs and walked the half length of the lot, he had started toward her.
“How was brunch?” He asked from a few feet away.
“Good, we got to talk. We hadn’t had a chance to in a long time,” she said with a smile, closing the distance between them.
He put his arm around her back, expecting her to turn away from the intimacy of the touch, instead she turned into him and kissed him, resting her hands at his waist leaning against him.
He smiled, surprised, “Gee, did you miss me?” He asked.
She smiled. “Yeah,” she admitted then looking at him, his blue eyes and the easy smile. Her smile changed a bit as she realized her sister’s observation was right they could do it standing up. She kissed him again, lingering her tongue touching his lips.
He was surprise she was being this open out in public with him, but he responded to her, and kissed her back with more involvement.
She leaned back then backed up a step. “Lets head for the boat.” she said and turned to start walking to the docks.
He kept his arm around her and was surprised when she did the same to him. He ran his hand up her back then stopped walking and looked at her.
She looked at him, “What?”
Smiling slyly he said “Told you could go without.”
She blushed, then shrugged. “Figured I’d try it on my days off.”
He liked the results. He sighed then started to walk again.
“I don’t remember you mentioning a sister when you talk about your family.” He said.
“Well, she is the oldest, and there are quiet a few years between us. She got married young and moved away. So she wasn’t there for more of my life than she was there.”
“Oh,” he said and then they turned and went behind a boat. Leaving their observer behind.
They left an hour later on the boat for a weekend of sun and time just between themselves.
Thanksgiving arrived swiftly for them, she had her ten days vacation, but had changed her plans. She was going to Denver for six of them then flying back to San Diego, to be picked up at the airport by Rick then spending the rest of the time at a small hotel on the beach in Baja, Mexico, with him.
His family thought she was spending the whole time in Denver, and he was going fishing with some friends south of the border for a few days.
Their room had a slider that opened on to the beach, and a Jacuzzi. They saw no one but the room service wait staff for their whole stay.
Rick did not have to explain his tan when he got home early Monday morning.
Abby was questioned about her tan from ten days in snowy Denver. She said the hotel had a great sauna and tanning rooms, so she took advantage of the free time.
When she complained to Rick about the questions later he laughed and said at least they can’t tell you have no tan lines.
Rick paused and looked at his progress. He was pleased, he’d finish this wall before supper. He’d make it to Abby’s for the dinner she promised him.
He let himself into his mother’s and went upstairs. She had left big notes on each of the closed doors, no paint or paint. He laughed, she feared he hadn’t paid any attention two days before when had been showing Abby the rooms and telling her what she planned on doing to them once Rick had finished the painting. He had tagged along mostly because Abby was there and was concentrating on her, trying to touch her and get a kiss out of her when his mother wasn’t in the vicinity. He’d gotten his break when the phone had rung, his mother left them alone.
Abby had looked at him as he cornered her in the last room Cecelia had showed them.
“What do you think your doing?” She asked sternly, doing nothing to stop his hands from wandering along her body, or his lips from kissing her neck. It had been a week since they’d been together. Rick having been involved with a stakeout with A.J. and neither he nor she able to schedule anytime together.
He’d gotten to her lips by the time his mother was coming back up the stairs, lucky for them she came talking. Then, as an even luckier break, the phone rang again. With a smile they were back in each others arms their lips locked.
“That was Edie and Bud, wishing me well on my trip. They are going on a cruise for Christmas.” They heard her say as she came down the hall. Abby wiped the lipstick off his lips and he pulled her shirt down.
Rick backed away from Abby reluctantly, then went to the other side of the room.
He was turned away from the door and looking at the ceiling when his mother came in. He turned to her, “You want this one green right?” He asked, knowing she didn’t.
His mother gave an exasperated sigh, “No, Rick this one is peach, see that can over there.” She said pointing it out.
Rick went over to look at the cans, with his mother pointing out the one to be used on the ceiling of both rooms and the color for this room.
For which Abby was glad, it was taking her a moment to collect herself from his kisses and roaming hands.
Abby was left behind as Cecelia took Rick and showed him the color for the other room, which was in the room that needed it. Rick winked at her as he went out the door following his mother as she repeated the instructions to him.
They left at separate times and both ended up at her place.
She woke up when he sat on the bed getting dressed at dawn. She watched him as he pulled his socks on.
He turned and smiled at her.
She found herself smiling back.
“See you later?” he asked.
“Yeah, dinner.” She agreed.
He leaned over and kissed her lightly several times.
She wished he’d lingered longer, but he moved away and stamped into his boots and was gone moments later.
Abby let herself into Cecelia Simon's house with the key her friend had given her.
As she closed the door behind her she could hear the music blaring upstairs, a sure sign Rick was at work on his assigned task - Painting.
Cecelia had asked her to come over and check that he was painting the right rooms in the right colors.
She had assigned herself another task too, to get Cecelia Simon's eldest son to put the last part of a photo album in order for his mother, like she had asked him several times. She put the supplies she had bought for that on the coffee table in the living room, then went upstairs to check on Rick's progress.
She found the room easily, and it was one of the ones she had wanted done, and he was using the correct color on the walls, he must have already done the ceiling cause the drop cloths were lightly speckled with the eggshell white, as was his sleeveless sweatshirt and backward baseball cap.
She watched as he used long even strokes with the roller of the peach on the walls. He paused periodically to cut in at the ceiling and along the chair rail. She was surprised at the care he used in doing the work. She backed away and went back downstairs.
She found the photo album that had all the loose pictures in the back. She pulled them out and laid them on the coffee table. But then she was drawn back to the photo album. The first night she had looked at it was the night she and Rick had had sex, it wasn't until the next night they really became lovers.
She looked through the pictures of his childhood again. She found herself studying the pictures of him as a child closely, she didn't know why, then she figured maybe to see when he lost that innate innocence most children have. She would see a look in his eyes some nights when they were just sitting together, not talking, not kissing, just being together.
She wondered what he was thinking of then, was it the lost of a father by a young boy or the loss in his soul created by the war.
She paused at one point and touched a picture of him, warning herself she was going to far into this, she was getting to like him too much. Finding herself thinking about him too much. But she kept looking through the book.
When she got to the part dominated by A.J. she put the book down and was surprised to see that it was past lunch time.
She went into the kitchen and put together a good lunch for him, since he knew he didn’t get much for supper the night before and had probably counted a cup of coffee and a coffee roll as breakfast.
She made four sandwiches and grabbed two beers out of the fridge, she brought them into the dinning room then headed for the stairs to tell him his lunch was ready.
They meet at the corner on the stairs, causing him to jump, cause he had thought he was alone in the house. To suddenly run into someone on the stairs, the someone who had been the center of many his thoughts that morning.
He leaned back against the wall and brought his breathing under control from the surprise.
She stood and watched him.
“Hi,” he finally said.
“Hi, guess I should have told you I was here.” She said.
“Ah, yeah, my heart would appreciate that.” he said a hand to his chest. “Jeeze”
“I been here a couple of hours, I came up once, you were busy.” she explained.
He smiled slowly, “Checking up on me?”
“Cecelia asked me too, plus I was enjoying the view.” She moved a hand up his arm.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” And she kissed him, like he had kissed her upstairs here last night.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. As he responded to her kiss he wondered about their relationship. If it was just lust, shouldn’t it have cooled by now, not still been like this, the need to touch each other, to be with each other. He still wanted her as much as he had that first night.
She pulled back from him.
He looked at her, reluctant to let her leave his arms.
“I made lunch.” She said.
He smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“How domestic.” He said. Earning him a fist to the upper arm. But he let her go and followed her to the dinning room.
He polished off three of the sandwiches, and his beer.
“Want more?” she asked. She’d just finished her one and her beer.
He smiled, “No, but they were good. Thanks”
She picked up the dishes and cleared them.
He reluctantly went back up to work but found his mind drawn more to thoughts of her. There was no way he was going to keep this relationship simple, he wanted more, he wanted her in his life, he wanted to be in her life.
He finished the first room, then moved all the drop clothes to the next room, setting up for tomorrow morning.
When he came down the stairs later barefooted and dressed in jeans and a clean white t-shirt, he smelled of soap. He’d used one of the bathrooms upstairs to shower and scrub off paint.
He saw Abby was sitting on the couch so her came over and flopped beside her. She smiled at him. He glanced at the coffee table, “Whatchya been up ….” He sat up and looked more closely.
She moved closer to his side.
“Why do you have these out?” He asked. The pictures from the back of one of the photo albums, actually now that he looked through the piles there were some he didn’t even remember his mother having. They were separated on the table between the war and his time on the road. And each of those were divided up somehow.
“You have to go through them.”
He shook his head.
“I went through them and divided them up. On the ones from Vietnam I went by the dates someone wrote on the back. The ones on the road,” she said then ran a hand through his hair, “I divided by length of hair.” She told him then put her hand on his.
“I can’t,” he said.
“Yes, we can. You told me about them when we looked at them months ago, just do the same thing and I’ll do the rest, Okay? You can do that” She told him, looking at him.
He glanced at her then nodded.
She started with the ones from the road. He’d tell her where he was and what he’d done there and if it was before or after the war.
She’d arrange the page write the labels then have him double check. Then put the put the plastic back down over them and flip the page.
She told him she wanted him to do this for his mother because it would mean a lot to her. She still hurt from the years he was missing from their lives. This would let her know more about that time.
One of the pictures from Vietnam, caused him to tear up. He looked away and handed it to her. “That was my squad, the last one.”
She asked him if he remembered their names. He nodded. She put the picture in the middle of the page and looked at him to supply their names. He told her each one’s name and background on them, then how they died.
She looked at it when she was done with the labels. Of the eight men in the picture five were dead. Three of them within weeks of the picture being taken, two of the three by land mines, the third in an ambush. The two who died later also had violent deaths. Ray, the Navy medic, the man responsible for saving Rick’s life two days after this picture was taken, was killed in a drive by gang shooting and Robert Mitchell had been killed during an attempted robbery at a store he worked at.
Rick pointed to one of the other guys, who he hadn’t said was dead. “I heard he had cancer. Don’t know if he is still alive.”
The last picture in the pile was a chopper, with a big red cross on it, silhouette in the setting sun. She flipped it over and looked at the date, she looked at him, “You told me that was the day you died, your mother says you were wounded.”
Rick sighed, then related the events of the day he was wounded, then told her something he had not told his family, they were just so glad he was home, he didn’t want them to know how close he came to coming home in a box. “I did die at the base hospital, but Ray, “ Rick wiped his eyes. “Ray wouldn’t let me go, he told me I had to stay, for my little brother and for my mom. That they needed me and it wasn’t my time. They doctor’s said it was close for a time, I’d lost so much blood.” He sighed. “They chaplain read the last rites over me twice in thirty six hours. Ever have that done?” He asked looking at her.
She shook her head.
”I was aware of it both times, it’s strangely comforting. Lets you know the spirits are ready for you. That its okay to go.”
“That’s the scar on your groin?” She asked.
“Yeah, came close to losing the leg, and a few other important parts.” Rick commented wryly
She smiled, leave it to a guy to think of it that way.
She put that picture on a page then wrote the label ‘Med-evac ride to hospital.’
They ended up sitting on the floor as they looked back through the album. It rested on their knees as she flipped the pages.
Abby looked at him after he stopped making comments. She closed the album and put it on the coffee table, then took Rick in her arms and held him close.
His tears were silent, but he held on to her tightly, as he was racked by sobs coming from the depth of his soul, for all the loss, for the pain.
Who started it would remain a mystery, but it was acceptable to both of them in this time and place, he kissed her and unbuttoned her shirt. She pulled the t-shirt off of him. He undid her jeans and in a much-practiced move had them off her and out of the way.
When she heard him say it, it was all she could do to keep her eyes shut and not react, especially given the point they had both just reached. To hear him say it surprised and scared her. He said he loved her. Given the act they were engaged in it could be taken literally or figuratively. But in all their times together he did his talking early and completed the act not in silence but not with spoken words, to hear him declare it, here like this, at that moment. It struck her that she loved him too and that scared her more than learning he felt that way too.
He laid himself beside her and started to kiss her neck, moving her shirt to touch his lips to more of her body. After he drifted off she pulled her shirt together, found her jeans and went upstairs. She took a long hot shower and tried to figure out what to do.
Love was not what she was looking for when she went ahead with this liaison. She wanted a good time, and sex. She'd gone too long without a steady partner and had found herself enjoying him, completely satisfied sexually, but love?
What would follow the love? Marriage? Kids? Could she envision herself married to Rick Simon? She asked herself and realized she could but could she love a man whose job could be as dangerous as hers and in some ways more so since they did not have the protective gear cops had. They were also usually down on the streets more than she was.
How many stories had she listened to of Cecelia's where her boys were involved with something dangerous. She remembered the ex-con out for revenge that she had told her about, Quint something, beat Rick almost to death. He spent weeks recovering. Or even just the normal cuts and bruises she'd seen him come home with in the last few months. She knew it was a double standard, but she didn’t know if she could do what she would ask him to do, accept her and her job.
She shut the water off with no answers for herself, except to rationalize it by telling herself he said it in a moment of passion. He may not remember it or be willing to admit he said it to her.
She dressed in the clothes he'd gotten her out of so easily and went downstairs.
He was where she had left him, on the floor, asleep. She looked at him very indecisive. Finally she went and sat on the couch near his feet. He looked very comfortable. She smiled then laid across the couch so her mouth was above his ear. She whispered a few things to him and saw the smile gradually appear on his face.
He opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Hi," then he noticed where he was. "Did I fall off the couch or did we ah..." He asked.
"Floor." She confirmed.
He sat up and shook his head. "What a classless act I can be, jeeze. You deserve better that the floor," he said, pushing himself up to sit beside her.
"Thank you" she told him with a smile. "With the emotion involved this afternoon the location was immaterial." she told him and meant it.
"Yeah." he said and looked away, he did not want to talk about what had started it, it was still painfully close to the surface. The emotions running through him from finally going through those old pictures for his mother and what he'd told her. He looked at her he remembered what he said to her, and he'd meant it, but did she actually hear him? She hadn’t reacted like she heard him, had she been so caught up physically she didn't hear him. He wondered.
"Still want dinner?" She asked.
He smiled, "Yeah."
"Seven?"
"Seven is fine."
She kissed his cheek, and got up, "See ya at seven." and she left.
He sat on the couch for a while after she left then got up and picked up some of the debris left from their intimacy on the floor of his mother’s living room.
He looked up hearing a key in the door.
“Hey Rick,” his brother yelled as he closed the door behind him.
Rick picked up the wrapper quick and hid the evidence, he did a glance around the room, to see if there was any other evidence of someone else having been there with him.
“Hey A.J.” He called and got up.
“All right, enough.” Abby finally said putting her hands up in surrender.
Rick smiled and looked at his brother.
“A.J. go ask Hanrahan.” She said.
A.J. got up. “Thanks Abby” and he left the office, the door drifting closed behind him.
Rick wisely hadn’t done much of the annoying, he started it then left A.J. to do the main