Chapter 2
Barbara Kean was not having a good day. In this city, after the conflicts, the banks were rarely open. All online banking services were intermittent and it had been a whole month since she had been able to get her hands on any cash. The money she kept at home was running out. Home was not her old apartment. That had been destroyed by fire. Now she rented a two bedroom apartment that overlooked the better side of the river, in an area that had escaped damage. It wasn't great. It wasn't luxury. But at least it wasn't filthy. The bar was gone. She had lost everything. She had asked herself a thousand times why she simply didn't up and leave this place. But this city was her home, it had some kind of hold on her. She hadn't fought her way to the top, pre war, to give up now. But everything was ruined. Now life was about survival and having no money coming in sucked.
She wanted to pull the bar up from the ashes. She was sure a day would come when it would happen, but right now, her only concern was getting by in tough times. She was all alone and she was sure this situation, this apocalyptic alteration of her city, was driving her insane. There was a huge housing crisis, there were shanty towns, there was filth and dirt and disease everywhere. She couldn't stop cleaning the apartment.
Barbara had been down by the river to a market to sell a painting. As soon as the cash was in her hand she put it away, making sure those close by caught a flash of her gun. As long as they knew she carried a weapon, she wouldn't have to worry about getting robbed or getting into a fight with these people. Some of them looked filthy...
"Who wants to get high? Who needs an escape from this crappy life? I got pills and the store is open!"
She turned her head to see someone who didn't fit in around here:
There was Ed Nygma in a sharp green suit... He was dealing?
She turned away and headed towards the alley where her car was parked. The paving that led to the end of the market was uneven. She tripped and fell and landed hard, one hand slamming against the concrete, the other stinging sharply as a trickle of blood ran from a cut to her palm. Her first thought was how much money she was carrying, and she got up quickly, then she looked down at the dirty broken glass stained with blood and stared in horror at her hand. She hurried to her car and got in, then started up the engine. All she could think was how filthy that glass had been. Her fears were surfacing like never before. She needed a tetanus shot before that cut turned septic...
Barbara was the last person Lee expected to see in the over crowded waiting area on the ground floor, she was leaning on the desk and refusing to wait in line as she said loudly that she needed a shot because she was injured. She sounded upset, tense, maybe a little irrational. Lee stopped a passing nurse and told her to take over for a while, then walked over to the desk.
"Barbara?"
As she said her name, Barbara turned sharply, glaring at lee as she held out her hand.
"I need something for this! The streets are filthy, this could turn septic!"
Lee paused for thought.
"Are you feeling okay, I mean, apart from your hand? You seem really upset over a minor injury."
Barbara froze, silently thinking, Don't let her think you're crazy. She can spot that. Don't get upset...
"I'm fine," she snapped, "I just want this cut cleaned up now!"
"And I have a waiting area full of sick patients."
Barbara turned her head and looked to the people sat waiting. Suddenly she wanted to be far away from them, away from the disease and the bacteria.
"Can we go somewhere else?"
Lee had already got the measure of her. Barbara was a nervous wreck right now, but it certainly didn't mean she had gone crazy again, it was a reaction she had seen many times in many patients since the city had fallen apart.
"Do you worry a lot about contamination?" Lee asked carefully.
"I'm not crazy!" Barbara said defensively.
"I didn't say that," Lee replied, "What's happened to this city has affected a lot of people. To an extent you're right to worry – it is bad out there. Come with me, I'll take a look at your hand."
Barbara took the elevator with Lee to the top floor, then they went into her private office. Lee leaned up her hand, then dressed the wound. It was a minor cut and didn't need stitching. While she cleaned her up, Barbara talked about her new apartment, and how much she hated it because it wasn't as luxurious as her old one. She mentioned it had two bedrooms. Lee found out she lived alone. All this effort had been worth it – she had noticed at first sight Barbara looked well dressed, clean and even still glamorous, obviously, she had comfortable accommodation. Her instinct had been right. Maybe Barbara could be persuaded to help Oswald...
"How does it feel now?" she asked as she finished dressing the wound. Barbara cautiously moved her hand, then she looked across the table at Lee as worry clouded her gaze.
"Are you sure I don't need a shot for it?"
"If I gave a shot for every minor wound I treated, we would be out of shots for people with serious injuries. If it gets infected, come back and I'll find you some antibiotics. But it should be okay."
Barbara looked down at her hand again and frowned.
"I'm not so sure...I'll hold you responsible if I lose my hand."
Oh, she really was traumatised by the city getting wrecked, it was so clear to see that, laid out in that single statement. But at least she wasn't dangerous...
"Your hand will be fine," Lee replied.
Barbara's eyes turned to ice as she glared at her.
"It had better be," she replied.
Now she sounded more like her usual self. Lee changed the subject.
"So, what were you doing in such a rough part of town?"
"Selling a painting. I had no choice, the banks are shut, the online banking is down and I needed the cash. I still need cash."
Perfect. Lee thought about the cash Ed kept stashed in an overnight bag, it was stuffed with money and the bag was behind a false backing to a cupboard in the kitchen. There was at least ten grand in there...
"I might be able to help you."
Barbara shook her head and her bobbed platinum hair shimmered as she shot her a doubtful look.
"Do they even pay you to work here or do you do it for free?"
"I have a patient who needs to leave urgently, new rules since the war state anyone who isn't in need of constant medical care has to be discharged to an address within the city or they get shipped to Arkham - and conditions in there are terrible."
Barbara looked at her blankly.
"So what?"
"So, I was hoping maybe you could look after him for a few months. He was wounded in the city battle. He was shot in the head – it put him a coma, he's been awake for more than five months and he's almost fully recovered. If he goes to Arkham, he won't get better. They will put him into an overcrowded, filthy cell where they mix sick people with violent inmates. He's still regaining his strength and his speech. He wouldn't stand a chance in there."
She saw no compassion in her eyes.
"And that is nothing to do with me," Barbara said.
Lee refused to give up. An idea had just come to mind, it was something she would hate herself for doing, but if it got him out of here and into comfortable accommodation, it would be worth it. She could apologise to him later. Barbara needed to see him, and she needed to feel pity for him. There was only one way to do this...
"I could pay you to take care of him."
Barbara shook her head.
"Thanks for cleaning up my hand. I'll be back to kick your ass when it turns septic!" she got up from her chair and turned away.
"Wait!"
Barbara turned back reluctantly.
"What now?"
"Look, the bottom line is, he's being moved to Arkham tomorrow if I can't find him a place to stay. He doesn't even know it yet. Actually I was just about to go and see him and break the news. If you came with me, if you saw him -"
"I'm not a nurse. I also have better things to do."
"Like wait for the bank to open so you can go shopping?"
Barbara's eyes narrowed as she glared at her.
"I need to rebuild my business as well as my life!"
"I can pay you to look after him," Lee reminded her.
Barbara gave a sigh.
"You couldn't pay me enough to look after one of your patients."
"Just come with me, please? He's in a room at the end of the corridor, right here on the top floor. It would take five minutes."
Barbara shrugged.
"Okay, but you are wasting my time. You couldn't afford to pay me to look after anyone. You don't have any money."
Lee led her down the corridor, laying aside her remark about cash.
"I'm not giving up on this, Barbara. You really could help this guy."
"But I don't want to."
"He doesn't need much help at all, he can walk short distances and he's getting stronger every day, his speech is almost perfect too. But he gets tired easily and he gets headaches sometimes. He has trouble with his leg, that will improve a little once he starts walking further. All he needs is a place to stay for two, maybe three months..."
She reached the door at the end of the corridor and turned to face her.
"Please reconsider," she said, "Time is running out and I have no one else to ask. You have a spare room in a city where homeless levels are beyond crisis point."
Barbara shook her head.
"We all have a crisis going on these days, Lee. I'm not about to make my life harder for a stranger."
Lee turned to the door.
"Wait there, I just have to tell him about tomorrow. And by the way, Barbara, he's not a stranger. You know him. It's Oswald!"
She saw shock register on Barbara's face, then she went into his room, leaving Barbara outside and the door half open.
He was on his side, sleeping. Lee reminded herself why she was doing this, and then she gently touched his arm. He stirred from sleep quickly and turned over and looked up at her. Lee felt the pain like a knife in her chest as she started to speak.
"Oswald, I'm sorry but my superiors are tightening up the rules in this place and I can't keep you here any longer. You have to be transferred to Arkham in the morning."
Shock registered on his face, then anger blazed in his eyes as he became tearful.
"No, you... you said you wouldn't..." he gave a sob as he struggled to speak, "Not Arkham... please... Lee, don't do this... please!"
He grasped hard at her arm, his fingertips digging in as he held on to her and she looked down at him, hating every second she put him through this deception.
"I...I can't go back there... Not Arkham! Please...I'm begging you!"
He was gasping for air as tears ran down his face and he let go of her, weak from the effort of getting so worked up. He started to cry and he turned his back on her and buried his face in the pillow, at the same time grasping at the sheets as he crushed them in his fist. He felt powerless in that moment, and she had caused it, and knowing that made her want to weep too. But instead, she kept up the pretence.
"Oswald there's nothing else I can do."
"You... p-promised!" he stammered tearfully, then he wept again.
She turned away from his bedside and left the room, closing the door quietly.
Barbara was still standing there. Her face was pale and she looked shocked.
"I heard Oswald was in a coma, and that was the last I heard. I didn't know he was awake."
"Please Barbara, can you help him?" Lee said again.
Barbara thought about it. She also thought about the bad blood between them, the fights, the rivalry, the days when they had been bitter enemies...
"I'll ask around," she said quickly, "I'll see if anyone else can help. I can't promise anything...I have to go."
Then Barbara hurried away. Lee watched her leave.
"Selfish bitch!" she said under her breath, then she went back into Oswald's room.
He was still weeping and when she put a hand on his shoulder, he raised his hand and slapped away her touch.
"You fucking lied!" he wept, and gave another sob, then he turned over sharply and glared at her as fury blazed in his eyes like blue fire.
"You will pay for this!"
"Oswald, it's not true! I made it up to try and persuade someone to help you out. It didn't work. I'm so sorry for upsetting you."
He blinked. His anger started to simmer back down.
"You could have... warned me first!" his speech was still broken as tears shone on his face.
"I'm sorry, I saw a chance to get you a nice place to live and I was trying to make her take pity on you."
"Who?" he demanded.
"It doesn't matter. Just someone who could have given you a comfortable place to stay. She didn't agree. I almost persuaded her when she saw you so upset, but it didn't work out the way I hoped."
"Never lie to me again!" he said darkly, "Now get out!"
His sharply spoken words had hurt more than he realised as Lee left the room and closed the door. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, anything to get Barbara to agree. She hadn't expected it to end so badly...
As Barbara left the hospital and walked towards her car, she was still thinking about Oswald. Then she thought about Arkham and what it had been like in the old days. It was much worse now, she knew that because there had been news reports on the TV about the terrible conditions and overcrowding there... For the past few months, she had assumed Oswald was still in a coma. She had heard Ed had moved in with Lee, for Ed to do that she had even wondered if Oswald was dead now... Finding out he was still alive had been a shock. It had been a bigger shock to see that man, once the king of Gotham, weak and sobbing and terrified as he lay there begging not be sent back to Arkham. She had never seen him so afraid, so helpless. He wouldn't last long in Arkham, not like that...
He was still on her mind as she reached her car, where it was parked close to the back of the building, near a small garden area. A woman was passing by with two children. One of them stopped and suddenly said, "Is it hurt?"
Barbara watched as one of the kids pointed to a small wounded bird that lay on the ground, its beak quivering as it tried to flap a broken wing.
"Let's just put it under the tree," the woman said as she scooped it up and laid it in the shade, "We can't do anything to help, it's far too weak. Leave it there to die, poor little bird."
As they walked away, Barbara's gaze was fixed on that bird as its wings fell still and its beak stopped moving. Poor little bird... She reached for her keys to start the engine but drew her hand back, instead turning her head and looking to the top floor of the hospital as she thought of Oswald. Poor little bird man... Barbara sat there for a moment deep in thought:
No, I do not feel sorry for Oswald. Why would I pity him? I'm thinking of the money Lee promised me. And when he's recovered he'll be Penguin again, he'll take back some power in this city. He can help me out, he will owe me a favour. Yes, that's why I'm doing this, there is no other reason... Well, maybe I do feel sorry for him. Maybe I feel very sorry for the poor guy, but we've been rivals. I can't let anyone think I've gone soft. I'll emphasize on the cash...
With her mind made up, she took the keys from the ignition, got out of the car, locked it and walked back towards the entrance.
Lee was still on the top floor. She was in her office, wiping her eyes as she looked at her phone. Oswald's text messages were flowing and eloquent, only serving to remind her how frustrated he felt at his damaged speech that cut his sentences in half when emotion got the better of him. He had used that phone ever since he had come out of the coma, whenever he needed to have a detailed conversation with her. The phone buzzed. He had sent her another message:
Lee, my dearest. What you did today was hurtful and upsetting. It was a very poor choice of plan. If you ever want to try that again, warn me first – I can play along, I would rather that, than be subjected to such distress, caused by one who claims to care for me! I was furious with you! But I forgive you. I realise you were acting on instinct to protect me. I apologise if I have made you cry. I can be rather hurtful when angered. I try and hold my temper back and be a gentleman - but sometimes I fail. Know that I am a very forgiving man, and I understand why you said those things. I am waiting for you to return to my room. A kiss awaits you. My fondest regards, Oswald.
Lee wiped away another tear and got up from her desk, then left her office.
She hurried to his room, went inside, closed the door and as she reached his bedside, he was sitting up on top of the covers, and he wrapped his arms around her as she pressed her face against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Oswald," she said quietly.
He pulled back from their embrace and smiled as he looked into her eyes.
"All is forgiven, Lee."
He gave her a brief kiss and felt instantly relieved to see the sadness had gone from her eyes.
"You certainly tried hard to get me an address," he added.
"And I'll keep trying," she promised him.
Just then she heard someone call her name.
"I won't be a minute," she said, and left the room and closed the door behind her.
As Lee looked up the corridor, she was stunned: Barbara was back?
She walked up to meet her as they both reached the door to her office at the same time. Barbara looked worried all of a sudden.
"What have you done now, did you break a nail?" Lee said coldly.
But her frosty words had no effect on Barbara.
"I didn't know he was still alive," she said, "I mean... Oswald, I thought he passed away. I wasn't sure, I didn't want to ask...We've never seen eye to eye, not in the past, but I'm glad to know he's still around. I've known worse people than Oswald! How much did you say you could pay me?"
Lee resisted the urge to smile even though she was delighted. Her plan had actually worked! She looked at Barbara, saw emotion and concern in her eyes and wanted to laugh out loud and say Oh my god, you DO have a heart!
But instead, she silently considered the money hidden at home, and how much of it Ed could stand to lose without it being a financial disaster. He needed a grand for the next batch of chemicals to make more of the pills. So that left nine... they needed at least five to get by...
"I can give you you two grand, in cash."
"Three and a half."
Wow, she was driving a hard bargain. Ed needed to pay his bodyguards every week. Protection cost money...
"Barbara, you must know how Ed makes his money these days."
She tilted her head slightly as she smiled, struck by a sudden thought.
"Oh yes, how could I forget? He's a dealer now! There's money in drugs... Make it four grand."
Lee glared at her as she kept her voice low.
"Three and a half, in cash, tomorrow morning. Be here at nine am, the money will be waiting. And you're not backing out of this. I want you to fill out the paperwork now and then we will see Oswald and tell him the good news together."
"I'm not going to change my mind!" Barbara exclaimed, "I need the money! I'll take three and a half. Go and get your forms, and I'll do the paperwork."
"No, you come with me," Lee said sharply and she opened up the office door and went inside, and Barbara followed.
Lee sat down at her desk, found the relevant form and handed it over to her. Barbara was sat on the other side of the desk, leaning back in the chair and crossing her shapely legs as she cast her a bemused glance.
"This should be the easiest money I've ever made. I'm only doing it because of the banking crisis."
"You'd better take care of him," Lee warned her, "Or you'll have me to deal with. I'll be stopping by to see him on a regular basis. He still needs therapy."
Barbara snatched a pen off her desk and started to fill out the form.
"Relationship to patient? I don't see any box on here where I can put I was paid to look after my former underworld rival?"
"Just fill it out," Lee said as tension crept into her voice.
Barbara fell silent as she started to fill out the form, but then Lee spoke up again.
"I'm going to give you some instructions, details about his meds and when he needs them and what he takes them for, it's important that he gets up and walks about, don't let him lie in bed all day, he has to start using his leg to build up strength again."
Barbara signed and dated the form and handed it back to her.
"I hope this isn't going to be complicated."
Lee regarded her silently for a moment. She wanted to call her a bitch but Oswald needed that room.
"No Barbara, you just need to be compassionate. Will that be a challenge for you?"
Barbara hesitated.
"How damaged is he? I mean, can he understand me?"
"He was shot in the head, Barbara. He was lucky he wasn't blinded, he was lucky the bullet caused an injury he could recover from – a fraction over and he would have been dead or in that coma for the rest of his life. He had major surgery, he was critical for three weeks, in a coma for six months and he's spent the past five months trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his life! He's very determined and very brave to have got this far. Please acknowledge that when you see him, be gentle with him, he's still fragile."
Barbara stared at her. After all she had just said, she wasn't sure what to expect when she walked into that room.
"Okay," she replied quietly, "I'll go easy on him."
As Lee got up, she also rose from her seat, suddenly feeling nervous. She was actually worried about Oswald, and that was surprising. But she said nothing as she followed Lee from the room and wondered how Oswald would react when he realised she was the one he would be moving in with...
Oswald was resting on his bed when the door opened. He sat up, saw lee and then stared at the sight of the shapely blonde who had followed her into the room. What the hell was Barbara Kean doing here?
"Oswald," Lee said as she joined him, "I've found you a place to stay. Barbara has a spare room and she's happy to take you in until you're recovered."
Oswald looked from Lee to Barbara and said nothing as he carried on staring, shocked at the thought that the only person in Gotham who could help him out was a former underworld enemy...
Barbara stepped closer and looked into his eyes. To Lee's alarm, Barbara took hold of his hand, then she spoke to him slowly, oblivious to the rage that was building in his eyes.
"Hello Oswald," she said, speaking clearly and slowly, "My-name-is-Barbara. Do-you-remember-me? I-am-going-to-be-looking-after-you."
He drew in a slow breath and dashed his hand away from her grasp.
"There is nothing wrong with my intellect!" he fumed.
"Oh...I see. Oops!" Barbara said, and she took a step back, "At least its good to know you're still Oswald. And by the way, I'm doing this for you because she paid me. I have a spare room. You can stay in it. When I say that, I mean, please stay in it and don't bother me too much."
"He might need your help sometimes," Lee reminded her, "So help him, or our deal is off."
Barbara gave a sigh.
"I'll be back in the morning to collect the money and him," she replied, "And I won't let you down, Lee – like I said, I need the cash."
Then she left the room and walked away. Oswald glared at Lee.
"I...I don't want to live with her!"
"Stay calm, your speech is locking up."
"Calm? She's the very last person...I ...I'd ever want to stay with!"
"And for now, it's the best option until we come up with something else," Lee reminded him, "If it doesn't work out, you can live with me and Ed. That's a promise."
The look in his eyes faded to sadness.
"It seems I have no choice – for now."
"It's going to be okay," Lee promised him, then she gave him a hug, and as he held her, he thought about Ed. If only Ed had not left him, if only he was still here waiting for him, life would have turned out differently – Ed would have took him home and nursed him back to health, he would have woken up every day in his arms... He still wished he could do that. But he knew Lee was doing her best for him and she was right – at this time, Barbara's spare room was the only option, so he had to take it...
Lee left work early – a rare thing and something she loathed to do when patients needed her – but she had to get home before Ed and get her hands on the money. Half an hour after she had left the hospital, she was back at the apartment, on her knees in the kitchen, dragging aside the false back to the kitchen cupboard. She grabbed the bag, pulled it out and put it on the floor, then she opened it and looked inside at the bundles of notes, and breathed out slowly as she shook her head. Three and a half grand was a lot of money to miss while the city was in such chaos...
"Sorry, Ed," she said as she reached in and started to take out the cash, "But it's for Oswald."
She closed the bag, shoved out back into place then grabbed the false backing and gave it a shove. At first sight, there was nothing in there, it was hidden well enough. Sitting at the table counting it out, she felt guilty despite the reason for taking it – Ed was risking his life every day to bring in this money... But it was for Oswald, he would understand...
"What the actual fuck, Lee?"
She froze, looking up from the table with wads of money in her hands as more was stacked on the table, counted out. Ed was back early. His eyes were wide with something between anger and confusion.
"Put that back!"
"It's for Oswald."
That look was gone.
"Oswald?"
"I've found him somewhere to stay – with Barbara Kean. She's having a cash flow problem and I said I'd pay her expenses if she took him in. She's got a big place, he can have his own room and it's not too far from here."
Ed fell silent for a moment, he looked to the money, then to Lee as he thought about the situation. Barbara wasn't exactly his first choice of companion for Oswald, but times had changed and if she needed the money that badly, she wouldn't cause any trouble...
"Barbara?"
"There was no one else and Oswald is okay with it."
"You know there's been a lot of bad feeling between those two over the years, I can't see him being comfortable there."
"He needs to be out of the hospital, he needs a place to stay. If he stayed with us he would be on the couch and that would do him no good at all. I'll be seeing him at least twice a week to help him with his therapy, I'll soon know if there's a problem."
"How much money does she want?"
"Three and a half grand."
Ed leaned against the kitchen counter as he gave a weary sigh and shook his head.
"That almost puts us in the shit. I have to pay the hired guns who protect me. I have to pay for chemicals to make up the pills that I sell. On top of that, food in this wrecked city is fucking expensive, so are utility bills and you'd better start praying I have a brilliant month for sales because that's a huge dent in our finances, honey!"
"But it's for Oswald," she reminded him.
"No, it's for greedy Barbara Kean to keep her stocked with fine wine for the next six months!" Ed ran his fingers through his hair, then rubbed at the back of his neck as he wished the tension would go away, "Okay, ultimately it's for Oswald. Pay her the money – but if she screws up, if she doesn't take care of him, I'm going over there and taking that money back! If she doesn't look after him, I'm over there, I'll kick the damned door in if I have to!"
Fire had blazed in his eyes as much as in his words. Lee knew he still loved him. In truth, if he went back to him tomorrow, she would be glad for both of them because she had never doubted Ed's love for Oswald. What they shared here and now was a mutual need for many things, but she had never stopped seeing that look in his eyes – Oswald's coma had broken him. Lee loved him, but had always felt this relationship of theirs was some kind of dressing on a wound yet to heal. If she was wrong about that, she would embrace a future with him, and definitely have to find the willpower – if it existed- to stop getting intimate with Oswald – but only time would tell. It felt like such a mess...
"I think we should assume Barbara will keep her end of the bargain. She didn't come back because of the money, Ed. I saw genuine concern in her eyes when she first saw him. She turned the offer down at first, but then she walked back in and said she would do it. She was genuinely upset, I could see it in her eyes. She kept on talking about the money because she's Barbara - she didn't want me to think for a second that she might actually have a heart."
Just then her phone rang. She glanced down at the number. Lee got up from the table, looking to Ed as she said, It's Oswald.
"I'm not here!" he whispered as she turned to the window and took the call, "Lee, did you hear me, I said, I'm not here!"
"Oswald!" she said brightly, "This is a surprise. Are you okay?"
There was a pause. She waited. He usually preferred to text, and to know he was using his voice on the phone without her asking him to do it was good news, his confidence was returning. What he said next gave her a jolt.
"Come early tomorrow. Take your panties off and put them in your pocket. Let's have fun before I leave!"
"Oswald..." Lee had never been so glad the phone was not on loud speaker. She knew Ed's murderous rages too well and if he had heard that, it would have been disastrous.
"No, listen to me. No panties tomorrow. You upset me today. For that you need it be corrected. I'm going to spank you -"
"I'm glad to hear you're feeling okay," she replied as she smiled and turned to face Ed, "I'm at home right now. Ed's with me. Would you like to say Hi to him?"
Ed's eyes widened as he felt a flicker of panic.
"No!" he whispered, glaring at her as hurt registered in his eyes, then he turned sharply and walked away.
"Ed's there?" Oswald said in surprise, "Okay... tell him I said Hi. Tell him...not to worry. And... and..." his speech was locking up again, "I'll see you tomorrow. Remember what I said."
"I won't forget," Lee replied.
"You'd better not forget!"
The call ended and Lee breathed a relieved sigh. The thought of Oswald demanding to spank her had made her instantly and ridiculously wet all over again. She shook her head, reminding herself to try and control these urges. But it wasn't easy, Oswald was so damned dominant and persuasive and one dirty word from him had her juices flowing like a tap had just turned on... Then she walked away from the table and the money, finding Ed standing by a window on the other side of the apartment as he looked out at the ruined city.
"Oswald said Hi. He also said not to worry. He doesn't blame you, Ed."
As Ed turned from the window, his glasses were off as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"He should blame me."
"He doesn't."
Ed searched her face for a trace of a lie, but saw none. Then he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"Let's not think about the past..."
She had no time to reply as his mouth covered hers and he stepped closer to the bed, she fell back and he held her on the mattress as he kissed her deeply as desire burned in his eyes.
"I've thought about you all day!" he said urgently as his hand slipped into her underwear, she caught her breath as he fingered her impatiently, pressing his erection against her, it was instantly solid.
"Oh wow, Lee – you're so turned on!"
He was breathing heavily as he tugged at his zip and freed his erection.
"I need you too, I'm aching as much as you are."
He pulled her damp underwear aside and entered her hard, making them both gasp.
"Oh Lee!" he started to thrust against her as they slid together easily, bound by the heat and the slickness of her walls as she gripped him tightly. Her thighs were wet, every thrust welcomed him deep inside her and he couldn't hold back for long as she cried out again, he lost control and gave a sharp gasp, throbbing hard, then he looked down at her as he recovered his breath.
"We both needed that," he whispered, then he separated form her and lay beside her, pulling her into his embrace as he kissed her cheek.
"You keep me going, Lee. You make the risk worth it, I don't go out there selling that shit for fun. Then I remember I have you and it's all worthwhile, my whole life is worthwhile again."
Lee held him tighter, saying nothing as her thoughts drifted between Ed and Oswald.
Lee arrived at work early the next morning, she parked her car, then smiled as a text alert sounded. She turned off the engine and checked her phone. It was Oswald and his words made her ache sharply as she hoped she could keep this under control – her panties were off. She didn't want to leave a damp patch on her clothing...
Good morning Lee. I see you have arrived early. But I'm afraid that won't make a difference - I still need to correct your behaviour. I can be very naughty with spanking, very firm indeed.
She smiled as she sent back a message:
Don't be too rough or I'll scream the place down!
Oswald's reply was an instant turn on, taking her by surprise with his response:
You won't make a sound with your panties in your mouth!
"Oswald!" she said aloud, feeling that aching need growing deep inside her as she thought about the polite, shy man who kept such a hidden wild side. She got out of the car feeling impatient to join him.
"Lee!"
Her heart sank, as in that moment she swore all that heat might as well have been drowned out with cold water. Their last morning of fun wouldn't be happening now. She looked flatly at the woman who approached her.
"Good morning, Barbara."
"I know I'm early," Barbara replied, "But I wanted to wait for you and pick up my money. Then I'll take Oswald home."
"I'll pay you when we get back to your place," Lee replied, "I'll help Oswald get dressed and then I'm coming with you – I need to see the apartment, and to make sure he settles in okay."
Impatience flashed in Barbara's eyes.
"Okay, let's do this your way. I don't care, as long as I get my money!"
Lee said nothing in reply as they walked towards the entrance together, feeling a strange mix of being glad that Oswald finally had a place to go, and feeling disappointed for herself. She had arrived excited and looking forward to a stolen hour or two with him – now it wouldn't happen, and knowing he was leaving almost made her wish she never had to enter this building again. Work just wouldn't be the same with her favourite patient gone...