Father Figure
Note from author:
I don't own CSI but I do use their characters quite a bit….if they sue me maybe I can get their autograph…
Thanks to Peggy for giving me the idea...she is as warped as I am...but I still love her...
This is set in my own alternate universe…yeah come join me….
He told himself he shouldn't get involved with someone so young. He was not looking for anyone. In fact, he just happened to be in the city for a short period of time and therefore had no desire to have a one night stand. He told himself that as he watched her from across the street. She was visibly upset and any other time he would have turned to allow the woman some privacy so she could cry without feeling someone was watching her.
He didn't.
Instead, he walked across the street and pretended to be interested in the menu that was posted outside the same café. He glanced once or twice at her and she folded her arms and pretended she had not been crying. He grinned. He liked the look of stubbornness that crossed her face.
She stepped inside the small café and found the only available table that was free.
She had no sooner sat down and pulled out a menu that he came and stood in front of her.
"Do you mind sharing? There doesn't seem to be anything else open," he said. She surprised herself when she said yes. She wasn't quite sure why she had. It was not like her to allow a stranger to come and sit down with her. She rarely spoke with anyone she did not know. She guessed it was because of her family past.
"Have you eaten here before?" he asked.
She was surprised when he looked directly at her.
She nodded.
He glanced back at the menu.
"I really hate to eat alone. Just got here…on business," he said.
She smiled.
He took the moment to really look at her. She was tall and slim and her brunette hair fell to her shoulders. Her smile seemed to spread across her face showing a slight gap between her teeth. He was awestruck.
He was not used to conversations with women.
He usually fouled things up.
He was determined not to put his foot in his mouth.
They talked about California, mainly San Francisco.
She seemed to enjoy his company as he talked about his job and she genuinely seemed fascinated. As the meal was finished and paid for, he took the opportunity to invite her for a walk. He wasn't expecting her to accept.
He was a stranger.
She accepted.
The walk led to more talking and then as the evening got later, he found himself wanting to walk her home.
She refused.
She did agree to meet him at the diner the next day.
He assumed it was her polite way of letting him know she was not interested. He knew that when he returned to the diner the next day, she would not be there but he pretended to play along. He thanked her for the company and left her.
She knew he had no intentions of returning to the diner but at least she would remember this evening. She knew that when she returned to the diner the next day, she would be dining alone.
They were both surprised when they each showed up on time…at the same time. They slid into the same table and ordered. The meal was followed by a walk for several blocks. This time she offered to walk him home. He smiled. They were actually not far from the hotel where he was staying.
He expected she would bolt the moment he mentioned hotel room but she followed. When they arrived, she boldly walked into the hotel with him. He expected her to refuse to go up to the room but she didn't. She stood nervously by his side. When they arrived at the door, he unlocked it and held it open for her. She stepped inside and stood in the middle of the room.
He offered her a drink but she declined. They both stood there not sure of the next move. He sat down in the chair and offered the other to her. She chose to stand near the window and look out.
If you feel more comfortable in the lobby, we could…"
"This is fine," she said.
The conversation dwindled from there. He stood when she moved from the window. When he was sure she was going to just walk out, she came and stood in front of him. They were mere inches apart.
"I've never done this before," she whispered.
"Me either. I mean just meeting someone and…"
He did not get to finish as she leaned in and kissed him. As soon as her lips met his, his arms circled around her body and pulled her close. Her mouth slipped open and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
He figured she would stop there.
She didn't.
Her hands crept into his shirt untucking it and her hands caressed his chest. He could feel his senses reel from her touch. He told himself to go slow. He told himself that it was not the right thing to do but at the moment all he could think about was removing her clothing and making love to her.
They half stumbled to the bed as there was a mad flurry to remove each other's clothing. The room was already darkened and she flipped off the small lamp beside the bed. He didn't seem to mind. His hands still found what it sought. He suddenly was inside her and then all rational thought was removed as he found himself making love to her over and over. She gave herself to him until they each fell asleep. He pulled her up close to his body and kissed her lovingly. He knew it was crazy. He told himself over and over but his heart told him he loved her. He intended to tell her the next morning.
She was gone when he woke.
He quickly showered and dressed making his way down to the diner. He knew he was early but he did not care. He needed to see her. His stomach knotted when she did not come. He told himself it had meant more to her than a one night stand. It had to. He could not bear to think that he would never see her again.
He sat there late into the evening but she did not come. He told himself it was probably for the best but it did not make it feel any better. The next day he was back there waiting again. An hour went by and she did not show. He sighed and ordered a beer. His head shot up when he recognized her voice.
She had come.
She declined dinner. She did accept the walk again. He grasped her hand and held it as they walked. It was a nice warm day and yet she wore a long sleeved blouse. They took their usual route and he was surprised when she asked to come to his hotel. He made haste in walking there. As soon as the door shut behind him, he pulled her into an embrace. She seemed to tense up and he quickly released her.
"I'm sorry…did I hurt you?" he asked.
She shook her head. He was hesitant to touch her again so she once again initiated the lovemaking. Within minutes, they were writhing together. He thrust deeply and continued the pace until he felt her climax sending him over the edge himself.
"I waited for you yesterday," he said.
"I couldn't…come," she said softly.
He felt the wetness on his shoulder and he quickly turned to face her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I just wanted to see you again," she said.
"That sounds like a goodbye," he said.
She said nothing as she pulled him tightly against her.
"Always want to remember this," she said.
"We need to talk…I think it's overdue," he said. "I wanted to wake up next to you the other morning so I could tell you…"
I can't come back here anymore," she said quickly.
"Why not?"
"It's…not right," she choked out.
"Not right?" he asked. He quickly switched on the light. He gasped when he saw the bruises.
"What happened?" he asked.
She looked down in horror and realized he had seen what she tried so hard to conceal.
"It's nothing," she said as she pulled up the sheet to cover her body.
"Like hell!" he said as he stared at them.
It was then he saw the faint shadow where he was sure a wedding band had once been worn. He reached for her hand and stared at it.
Their eyes locked.
She quickly grabbed for her clothes and ran into the bathroom. He took the opportunity to dress. His chest heaved.
He stood there looking out the window when she reappeared.
"Tell me you're divorced," he said.
She shook her head.
"Separated?" he asked.
Her head gently shook back and forth and he cursed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he yelled.
"I uhm…don't know. I saw you...I was attracted to you…I uhm just wanted to…"
"Commit adultery!"
His words were like a slap in the face.
"I deserved that," she said. "I'm sorry…I uhm…"
He stared at her.
He stared at her really hard.
Underneath the tear streaked face and the bruises, lay a beautiful woman. He gulped. He wanted her even if she belonged to someone else.
"I didn't mean for this to happen…I just wanted to talk but then you were so kind and gentle and…." She looked away not proud of her actions nor the tears that streamed down her face. She was gone before he had time to think.
He stood there cursing.
He told himself to let her go.
He found himself running after her.
She had managed to make it out of the hotel and into the park before he caught up with her. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into an embrace.
"Don't leave…not like this," he whispered. "Come back. We can talk."
"I can't. I have to get back," she said.
"Meet me at the diner tomorrow," he said. "Please."
He kissed her before she could reply. "Please."
He watched as she scurried away. He sat there feeling the knot inside his stomach tighten.
She was there already waiting when he arrived the next day. He took the liberty of ordering for both of them even though she had not wanted anything. He slid his hand across the table and took hers.
"We'll go back and talk after we eat," he said.
She nodded sadly.
He felt himself rehearsing what he needed to say.
He never in a million years would have ever thought he would be about to beg someone to break up their marriage. He remembered the bruises and told himself he would do anything to get her away from the man and into his bed permanently. They had intended to talk. They both sat there across from one another but as she began to cry, he found himself kneeling before her and then he was kissing her and loving her.
He held her naked body in his arms as he kissed her tenderly.
"I can't come tomorrow," she said.
"Leave him," he managed to get out.
"I can't," she said.
"Did he do that to you? Did he put those marks on you?" he asked.
She nodded.
He cursed.
"Leave him!"
She shook her head.
"Why not?"
"I can't…I won't ever be able to leave him," she said.
"I'll help you…Don't go back there…stay here," he said.
"I have a son," she blurted out. "I can't leave him."
He felt as though his gut had just been kicked.
"A son?"
"I won't be coming back," she sobbed. "I have to try to make it work. I can't take my son from his father…I can't do that."
It was not what he wanted to hear.
He wanted her.
He knew he never had her.
He watched as she dressed.
He sat there and did nothing when she leaned down and kissed him.
She slipped out of the door and out of his life.
He knew from the beginning he was setting himself up for a doozy of a heartache.
It hurt like hell.
Laura Sidle leaned back in the hospital bed and cried.
It still hurt after all these years.
Note from author:
I'm back. The first chapter was a flash back but the rest of the chapters will be based on the present. Please be kind and leave a review for each chapter. It is the reason I write even when I am sleep deprived.
Take care,
Penny