Nothing Else Matters

By Leighann

I don't own the rights to the characters, but am just taking them off the dusty shelf for a bit.

**DO TO MAUTURE THEME READER DISCRESION IS ADVISED.**

****KM****

Doc came shuffling through the swinging doors of Long Branch.

"Morning Kitty," he stated as he stepped down onto barroom floor and headed right for the table Kitty was sitting at with her tally books.

"Mornin' Doc," Kitty stated softly as she motioned for Doc to take a seat. "Want some coffee?" she asked with out looking up from the ledgers she was working on.

"Don't mind if I do." He stated taking a cup from the tray, as Kitty lifted the coffee pot to fill his cup. As he took a sip of his coffee, Doc peered over the edge of his cup and carefully watched Kitty as she went back to working on her ledger. He didn't like how quiet she was being this morning, which was adding to the nagging feeling he had about her lately. Placing his coffee down he took a swipe of his mustache, "How come you didn't go to breakfast with Matt?" Doc noticed a muscle twitch in her jaw before she looked up at him.

"And stand you up for our morning coffee date?" she stated with a smirk not bothering to look up at him.

Doc gave her a frustrated look. "You know it isn't every morning that you have a chance to go to breakfast with Matt, Kitty. So why did you turn him down to have coffee with me?"

Kitty stopped what she was doing, placed her pencil down on the ledger, and folded her hands on top of it. "Did Matt send you in here?"

Doc knew that look, and he knew he need to tread carefully if he wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on between Matt and Kitty. "No…no he didn't."

"Then why the sudden interest in whether or not I have breakfast with him?"

Doc took another swipe of his mustache. "Well, I…" he stopped trying to think of the best approach.

"Go on, say it." Kitty prodded.

"Well now Kitty, I noticed that things between you and Matt have been kind of off lately."

"Off?" she stated somewhat taken aback.

"Yes, off."

"Doc, just because I'm not at breakfast with Matt doesn't mean anything is wrong." She stated matter of fact.

Now that the gate was open, Doc decided to take the bull by the horns. "Kitty, don't you sit there and tell me that every thing between you and Matt is okay, when I know for fact that you two haven't spent much time together in the last few weeks."

Kitty's eyes narrowed. She knew exactly how long it had been since she spent any real time with Matt and why. "We both have jobs that can be demanding on our time, and you know that very well Doc." Doc started to open his mouth to reply, but Kitty held up her hand. "But since you seem to have forgotten let me remind you that in the last 2 weeks there have been a number of trail herds coming into Dodge that have been taking up both Matt's and my time."

Doc knew she was evading him, and that it had been more then 2 weeks since he'd seen Kitty spend time with anyone. So, swiping his hand over his mustache, he changed tactics on her. "Then how come you haven't been spending much time watching over the bar, lately?"

Kitty's lips formed a thin line. "Since you seem to think that I have been neglecting my duties here you won't mind if I excuse myself to go inventory a shipment that just came. Good day, Doc."

Doc watch as Kitty scooped up her books and walked towards her office. 'By Golly, now I know something is wrong.' He thought to himself.

Kitty walked into her office and sat down at her desk with a sigh. She knew Doc had been prodding because he was concerned, but she just wasn't ready to talk to him, or anyone for that matter at this point. She thought that she'd been acting normal around him, but she could tell by his prodding just now that she hadn't been very successful. 'Some times that old man was too perceptive for his own good when it came to her', she thought. Kitty sighed and shook her head. Kitty knew that Doc thought of her like his own family, so it shouldn't have surprised her that Doc would want to be there for her if she needed him. Wanting to get her mind off the subject she got up from the desk and started working on inventorying her recent shipment.

Matt guided Buck towards the stable as a slow smile spread across his face. Dodge had never looked better to him then it did this morning. He had been gone for the last 3 weeks taking a prisoner from Ellsworth and delivering him to Hays.

"Morning Marshall," Moss greeted as he walked out of the stable. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back, Moss." Matt dismounted Buck. "How are things?" he asked as he hand Buck's reigns to Moss.

"Same as always when the herds are in, Marshall."

"Oh, any trouble I should know about, Moss?"

"No, not so far but then I heard from Chester this morning that the Diamond Head heard pull in early this morning and you know how those cowhands can be."

Matt chuckled, "Yes I do, Moss and they seem to become rowdier ever year."

Moss chuckled along with him, "Then it's a good thing that your back."

Matt shook his head, "Yeah Moss, speaking of which will you make sure Buck gets some extra oats? I pushed him a bit this morning."

"Sure thing, Marshall." Moss stated as he tipped his hat to Matt and started leading Buck into the stable.

Doc was just exiting his office and heading down the stairs when he spotted Matt walking by. "Hold up Matt!" he called out.

"Good Morning, Doc." Matt greeted as he turned and walked back towards Doc.

Doc reached the bottom of the stairs as Mat stepped up onto the boardwalk. "Say did you just get back into town?"

Matt hooked his thumbs into his gun belt and leaned back on his heels. "Yep."

"By Golly, I sure am glad your back."

Matt gave Doc a smirk, "Tired of having breakfast with Chester, are you Doc?"

"Huh," Doc gave him a sideways look and decided not to take the bait. " No, no Chester's been busy looking after things for you while you been lolly-gagging around the prairie." Stating the last part a bit gruffly.

Not wanting Doc to get a full head of steam Matt decided to change the subject. "Say I was just heading over to the Long Branch to see Kitty, and ask her to have breakfast with me. Care to join me?"

"Maybe she'll be happier to see you then she was me," he muttered softly.

"Doc?" he wondered quizzically. "Anything wrong?"

Doc's head snapped up and he looked Matt straight in the eye. Swiping at his mustache while he decided if he wanted to voice his concerns to Matt or not. Making his decisions he stated, "No. I've already had my breakfast, so you run along and see Kitty. She'll be happy that your back."

"Okay, I'll see you later for a beer, then?"

"Sounds fine."

And with that the men both parted ways.

Kitty had her back to the door, and was so busy prying open the whiskey crate in front of her that she never heard Matt enter her office. It wasn't until he placed both his hands upon her hips that she even knew he was there. She gave a small sharp intake of breath as he started placing soft kisses on her bare shoulder. She slowly let the breath out as his kisses started traveling up her neck towards ear. He took her earlobe between his teeth and gently tugged, then immediately released it to flick his tongue over her soft skin. She tilted her head to give him better access to her neck, as he again started placing soft slow kiss up and down her neck. She slowly closed her eyes as she lean back into his embrace, as Matt's arms encircled her waist and pulled her closer to him. He continued to place small kisses behind her ear as his hands traveled towards her breasts, and cupping them.

Matt's lips formed a smile when a soft moan escaped her lips.

Kitty felt his smile on her skin. "What are you so pleased about?" she whispered.

"It's nice to know I haven't lost my ability to make you melt in my arms," he softly replied as he went back to nuzzling her ear while continuing to massage her breasts.

Kitty reached back and placed her hands on the back of Matt's thighs and slowly stroking up and down, while pulling his hips tighter to her backside. "God I've missed this…," she gulped as Matt thrust his hips into her and then continued, "…missed us, Matt."

"Mmm, me too," he spoke against her skin as his growing hunger for her reminded him that it had been almost 2 months. He ground his now throbbing member into her soft round bottom again, causing her to push back into him as her bottom moved up and down against him.

They both were starting to breath heavy when Matt's hand squeezed Kitty's breast a bit too tight causing a slight flicker of pain and her eyes to snap open. Letting go of his thighs, she reached up grabbing a hold of his hand. "Matt, we need to stop," she softly spoke.

Matt was so wrapped up in the feel, taste, and smell of Kitty that her voice didn't register with him.

Getting no response from Matt, she tired again, this time pulling his hand away from her breast. "Matt, please we have to stop."

Matt's only response was to place his now free hand around her waist and grind his hips more firmly into her backside while his other hand continued to caress her breast.

Kitty realized she was going to have to be more forceful. So she took a deep breath and this time spoke louder. "Matt! Stop!" as she poked him in the ribs with her elbow to make sure she got his attention.

Matt grunted as his head snapped up. "You didn't have to do that, Kitty," he stated sounding slightly perturbed as he reached up and started rubbing the spot where she had jabbed him.

A pang of regret washed over Kitty as she turned and watched him rub his side. "Apparently I did, because it was the only way I could get your attention."

"Oh…sorry Kit," he picked his hat up from the floor and started twirling it in his hands. "Guess I got a bit carried away." He stated with a slight blush to his cheeks.

"I know Matt, but it wasn't just you. I was a will participate in case you didn't notice," her eyes flickered down to the slight bulge in his pants.

"I like the way you participate," he smirked.

Knowing just how long it had been since the two of them had shared an intimate moment alone. Kitty took a step towards Matt to give him a welcome home kiss, but stopped in her tracks when Chester walked into the office.

"Oh there you are Mister Dillon. Clem said you was back here."

Matt rolled his eyes at Kitty before turning to Chester. "Chester," he said flatly.

"Did ya just get back, Mister Dillon?"

"Yes, I did," he stated trying not to sound as exasperated as he felt when Chester stated the obvious.

Chester not being one to give up easily, "Did ya get your prisoner to Hays okay?"

"Yes, I did Chester." Matt sighed.

"It sure is a long ride from Hays, isn't it Mister Dillon?"

Knowing full well that Chester was fishing for Matt or Kitty to buy him a beer, Matt shook his head and looked at Kitty. "Yes it is Chester, so if you'll excuse me I'm going to go clean some of this trail dust off me. See ya later, Kitty."

"I'll go with ya, Mister Dillon. Bye Miss Kitty."

"Bye Matt, Chester." Kitty said as she tried not to laugh at the dejected look on Chester's face as she watched Matt and Chester leave.

TBC