"Kate?" Kaplan saw pain cross the aging features. "I once knew someone by that name. She was..." The woman paused, staring at the scar on her hand for long time before answering. "She was my heart. My life. My world."
"What happened to her?" Kaplan asked, looking at her with interest. She tried to sit up, surprised when Annabeth gently pushed her back down.
"She..She died." Annabeth's eyes filled with tears. "It's been forty years this December, and I have never, nor will I ever have another lover. She was my whole heart."
"I understand, more than..more than you know." Kate said softly.
"No. you Don't. How could you? Have you ever lost anyone?" Kate was taken aback by the venom in the woman's voice. "You DON'T know what it was like. "My Kathrine was everything to me. I was going to propose to her that night."
Kate looked at her, eyes full of sadness. She tried to sit up, tried to offer some form of comfort to the other woman, the person who had saved her life. "Annabeth. I actually have lost someone who I loved, more than anything else in this world or any other. She died in my arms. I lost her. And it's my fault. That's the worst part of it. It's my fault."
"No." Annabeth said softly. "No Kate. It isn't your fault. She died,but It wasn't your fault. Here-" With a practiced hand, Annabeth helped her to lie back down. "Shh...hush now. take your medication . Close your eyes again Darlin' "
Kate's breathing calmed as she lay there, comforted by the warm soft hand stroking her cheek. She didn't understand why this woman was helping her, helping her to stay calm, out of pain, and well fed. She allowed her tired, battered body to rest in the warmth of the other woman's arms. It had been years since she'd slept beside another in this way. True, she had slept beside Liz when she'd taken her and Agnes to safety but it wasn't like this. She had been the protector, the mother then. Now, she was the one being protected. She chuckled to herself, internally. She was a seasoned cleaner. She needed no protection. Yet, she felt safe, warm, cared for.
"NO!" Kate screamed, thrashing in the throes of another nightmare. "NO! don't shoot her."
"Kate! Kate wake up! " Annabeth turned the light on, rushing to pull Kate into her arms. "Hey...shhhhhhhhh...hush now. Shhh...No one's going to shoot anyone. I'm here. I'm right here. I wont let anything bad happen to you or to anyone else."
"Where am I? What happened to me? " It took her a moment to focus. "Annabeth?" "Annabeth? I'm sorry to wake you. I seem to have dreams like this most nights. Always the same one. "
"Want to talk about it?" Kate looked up into Annabeth's gentle eyes. The moon light shone through the window on the golden grey hair. The blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the soft light, and for a moment, it was like she was with Annie again, sitting on the love seat on the back porch, having a late night chat over a bottle of wine.
"It's...we're in the office...then...He comes in...I watch everything like Its a movie on a screen. I see myself make the move that sets everything in motion. I watch as the love of my life bleeds out in my arms.." She looks away. "If I hadn't reached for the phone. If I hadn't tried to be the hero...My Annie would still be alive."
"You don't know that!" Annabeth said, her words sharper than intended. She back tracked when she saw the expression on Kate's face. "If I hadn't convinced my Kathrine to take off of work, to come and visit me at my job. She would still be alive. Granted, I would be dead, but that is a small price to pay for the life of the one that you love." Annabeth sighed, helping Kate to lay back on the bed. "Close your eyes. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Kate lay back down, surprised when the other woman lay her head down on the pillow next to Kate. She moved until her head was touching Annabeth's comforted by the gentle warmth that she felt. "I miss her."
"Oh Honey. I know. I know." Annabeth's voice was soothing. She began to hum a soft song that reached deep into Kate's memories. Within minutes, the Cleaner was asleep.
