Disclaimer: I own very little, certainly not these characters and I derive no profit from them or my stories. I just like to make stuff up.

Kitty tossed and mumbled in a troubled and restless sleep, her dreams filled with the sound of echoing footsteps. Slowly, as the footsteps grew louder, she groggily realized they were real. A bleary-eyed glance at the clock told her it was 2AM.

Suddenly wide-awake she shook the sleeping form beside her, snoring lightly in a deep sleep. "Wake up, someone's coming up the back stairs."

"What – what time's it."

"2:00. Someone's coming, it sounds like Matt. You've got to get out fast. Get your pants on. I'll get your boots."

"You said he wouldn't be back 'til tomorrow."

Kitty sat up and reached under the bed. "That's what his telegram said." She tossed over a pair of well-worn boots. "Hurry, I hear the key in the outer door."

"I didn't know he had a key."

"Charlie, there's a lot you don't know." Kitty hurried to the window and shoved it open. Cold air rushed in. She looked down from the window and shook her head. "It's quite a drop, but it's the only way out."

"Hell, I've been thrown further breaking broncos."

Kitty smiled and rolled her eyes but the worry in her voice was real. "Seriously Charlie be careful, please. I couldn't stand to see you hurt."

"I'll be fine, don't worry."

A door creaked. Matt was in the next room. "Go now. I'll meet you at Willow Pond."

Charlie Johnson of New Orleans climbed out the window, dropped to the ground and hurried down the deserted street.

Relief washed over Kitty as she watched the tall, dark figure disappear into the night. She was so focused that the sound of Matt's voice startled her.

"I didn't think you'd be up at this hour."

She turned and faced him. "Oh Matt, you're home."

He smiled, "I got lucky. I was bringing my prisoner to Hays when I ran into the town sheriff. You know him, Jack Miles. I handed the prisoner over and rode all night to get back."

Kitty nodded distractedly. Matt's smile disappeared into a puzzled frown. "I thought you'd be pleased."

Words tumbled out, "I am pleased. Of course I'm pleased."

A cold breeze blew in through the window. She shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around her body.

Matt looked at her oddly. "Why do you have that window open on such a cold and windy night? And you're standing right in front of it."

"Oh - well - I forgot to close the window before I went to bed. The cold air woke me. I was just about to shut it when you came in." She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Deceiving Matt was foreign to her.

He walked passed her to the window and pulled it down. A wall of awkwardness seemed to rise between them, a wall he'd never felt before and didn't like.

He searched her eyes. She smiled. He began to doubt himself. Maybe he was imagining things. Maybe lack of sleep and the stress of a week-long manhunt were catching up with him.

He walked towards her opening his arms, "I'm sorry I startled you. Come here, please."

She smiled again and was moving towards him when something caught his eye. He slowly dropped his arms. On the armchair near the bed sat a cowboy hat. It was black with a black and silver band. Kitty saw his stare and followed his gaze. Her heart sank. She wasn't ready to talk about Charlie and whispered softly, "Matt let's go to bed."

His eyes wandered over her beautiful face. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, hear her laugh, talk about the past week, give her the gift he had for her. He ached for all those things but didn't make a move. Instead he glanced at her bed with a lawman's eyes. Two pillows still held indentations. Crumbled blankets were spread across the bed in a way they wouldn't be for just one person.

"Kitty, you weren't alone in bed were you?" His voice was strained and strange to his own ears.

"No." Her soft whisper stabbed him and his jaw clenched.

"He must have left in a hurry – so much of a hurry he forgot his hat. When you heard me coming he went out the window, that's why it was open." The words were matter-of- fact.

She didn't, couldn't deny it and didn't know what to say. "Matt, it's not what you think."

"I - I'm glad to hear that Kitty. Would you like to explain?"

She looked down at her bare feet hoping to find the right words, but knew there were none. She shook her head. I can't." She forced herself to look up at him. The pain in his eyes made her flinch.

"I'm sorry I burst in and ruined your night." His voice was quiet and flat. "I'll leave my key on the dresser." He walked to the door. "I brought you a gift. I see no reason not to leave it for you. It's yours. Throw it away if you want." He set his key and a small jewelry box on the dresser and continued out the door. His footsteps echoed as he walked down the back stairs.

Kitty slowly moved to the dresser and put a finger lightly on the key. She'd given it to Matt 4 years before. They'd been lovers for 3 years by then, best friends and confidants for longer. 7 years of loving and sharing everything was a long time. She gently pushed the key aside almost wishing Matt had made a scene and yelled instead of leaving quietly with pain filled eyes. No matter what happened, the look in those eyes would haunt her forever.

She eyed the small box for a moment without touching it. Matt loved to give her gifts. She knew that. She also knew that a US Marshal's salary didn't allow for extravagance yet he always managed to choose gifts that touched her heart. She removed the lid. On a bed of pink tissue paper lay a pair of simple pearl earrings. They were nothing like the flashy ones she wore to work. These had a deep beauty and an elegant grace. She knew that was how he thought of her.

She quietly whispered into the empty room, "Matt, it's not what you think."

TBC