Disclaimer: I do not own the show Bomb Girls nor any of its characters.
I hope everyone is enjoying this story! Please let me know what you like or don't like, it helps me improve as a writer and I appreciate it immensely. Thanks to Charmed Lassie for sticking with me and Fiona249 for the compliments! Your reviews are what's keeping me going! On to the story!
"Well, I must say, Kate, you look swell," Gladys complimented the red head as she modeled the new dress Betty had bought for her. She flashed the woman a wide smile, twirling to see how the dress moved.
Betty had brought her back to James' apartment after leaving the boarding house and Gladys had met them there after her shift at Vic Mu. She had already informed Kate that Mrs. Corbett still had a space for her in blue shift and that she could start work tomorrow. To celebrate, Gladys insisted on taking them all out for dinner and drinks.
"Don't you think she looks like a million bucks, Betty?" Gladys hinted to the blonde woman, who stood beside her. Kate glanced over to gauge Betty's reaction to her outfit only to be met with soft brown eyes staring directly at her.
"I think you look beautiful," Betty directed her response to her and Kate blushed under her gaze, looking away in embarrassment. This was becoming quite the habit for her, but she couldn't deny that she enjoyed the blonde's attention. It made her giddy and she felt as though she had butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.
She had tried to write it off as her just being vain, but something else stirred inside of her when Betty said things like that to her. Unable to put her finger on the feeling, Kate pushed these confusing thoughts from her mind.
"All right then. Let's get out of here," Gladys suggested to the two of them, throwing her fur shawl over her shoulders. It was the heart of winter in Toronto and the temperature was nothing to sneeze at. The new wool coat Betty had gotten her was incredibly warm, but she had a feeling she was going to wish she still had the silk stockings Gladys had given her once she was outside.
Kate was about to button up her coat when she noticed Betty in her green dress with only a light sweater to protect her bare arms. She immediately felt like a clod. She had ruined Betty's winter jacket when they escaped from her father. The blood had completely ruined it and now Betty didn't have a coat. The memory caused a painful flashback, but she tried her best to get a hold of her emotions.
"You can't go out like that, Betty! You'll freeze," Kate protested, already slipping her new coat off her shoulders to give to the blonde woman. Betty quickly stepped out of her reach and shook her head adamantly.
"No way. I bought that for you. I'll be fine, really. The restaurant is close, right Princess?" Betty assured her before turning to the wealthy woman beside and giving her a meaningful look. Kate knew she was trying to appease her, but it was going to get really cold out. She knew. After many nights of standing out preaching at this time of year, she was quite familiar with the sting of the cold.
"It's only a few blocks, but if I had known you didn't have a coat I would have brought you one of mine," the brunette worried aloud, eyeing Betty with concern.
"I'll be fine. Let's just go. I'm starving," Betty tried to convince them, but Kate was still skeptical. Betty was stubborn though, she would rather get frost bite than change her mind, so they didn't push the matter further.
Shit, it's freezing out here, Betty thought as they stepped out of the restaurant. She had almost forgotten in the warmth of the building how cold it was, but now that they were back outside she was given a harsh reminder.
She folded her arms attempting to create a little body heat, but quickly unfolded them when she saw Kate's concerned blue eyes looking her way. There was no way she was going to let the red head give up her coat, so she pretended that she couldn't feel the icy air through her sweater.
"Thank you so much, Gladys. That was fanciest dinner I've ever had," Kate spoke excitedly, her warm breath turning to fog in the cold night air.
Betty couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy; she wanted to be the one taking Kate to fancy places like this. She knew Gladys hadn't intended to show off, but instances like this always reminded her of the other woman's higher status.
"Hey Kate, I know it's been a long day, but are you up for seeing Leon's band play tonight?" Betty asked the auburn haired woman suddenly and was rewarded with a smile that lit up Kate's entire face.
That answered my question, Betty thought with a playful smirk.
Gladys insisted they take a taxi, claiming the street cars weren't safe at this time of night. Neither of them protested since she was paying, and Betty was relieved to be out of the cold night air.
They arrived at Tangiers to see the night in full swing with the music playing, couples dancing, and drinks flowing. Betty led them to their usual spot with the small circular table before lighting up a cigarette, seeing Kate practically bouncing with excitement out of the corner of her eye.
Betty knew this was one of her favorite places to be which is why she suggested it. Not to mention, she was sure Leon would be happy to see Kate back safe.
"I'll grab us some drinks," Betty offered and Kate smiled happily at her before turning her attention back to Leon's band, humming to the tune they were playing.
"I'll help!" Gladys followed her up to the bar and planted herself directly facing Betty. Sensing she wanted to say something, the blonde woman ordered the drinks quickly to buy her some time before the questions began.
"Three lime cordials," Betty told the bartender as she puffed away on her cigarette.
"How're things with Kate? It seems like you two had a nice day," Gladys leaned forward and asked her conspiratorially. The bartender returned with the three drinks Betty ordered and Gladys grabbed one without looking away from her.
"I think she might be changing her tune, Princess," she replied, giving Gladys an overly confident smirk to hide the hope she felt. Betty wasn't one to get giddy over anyone, but the fact that Kate seemed to be more accepting of her was making her feel hopeful.
"Betts! That's great!" Gladys gushed and Betty allowed a small smile to crack her lips. She grabbed the other two drinks and made her way back to Kate with Gladys in tow.
"Mhmm…Lime cordial. My favorite. You're the best, Betty," Kate thanked the blonde before taking the glass from her hand.
For the briefest of moments, Kate's fingers brushed against her own and she felt the familiar warmth spread throughout her body. Before she knew it the moment was over, but Betty could still feel the tingle in the tips of her fingers. Kate sipped her drink casually and she had a feeling the moment hadn't been mutual.
The band finished the song they were playing and Kate waved excitedly at Leon, trying to get his attention. It worked and the large man smiled, gesturing for her to approach the stage.
Betty watched with longing as the red head practically skipped over to the stage.
"Church Mouse!" Leon greeted Kate, jumping off the stage so he could give her a friendly hug. She returned the gesture, standing on her toes to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders.
"Leon, it's so good to see you!" Kate told him sincerely before pulling away to look up at his face.
"Didn't think I was going to be seeing you again. You left in quite the rush," the edge in his soulful voice sounded almost like a reprimand.
"Sorry, I didn't really have a chance to say goodbye…," Kate replied, feeling a little foolish. It had never really occurred to her that there would be people other than Betty that would miss her when she left.
"You leave because of Betty?" he asked directly, pulling a cigarette from his pocket. Kate stared at him blankly for a moment while he lit up, wondering what she should say.
Kate had known Leon had seen what had happened between her and Betty but she was hoping he wouldn't bring it up. She couldn't think about that night without her mood turning dark. Everything was still so confusing.
"Yes, but it was a mistake. I know that now," Kate admitted, tearing her eyes from Leon to search for the blonde in the crowd. Her eyes locked with Betty's and the other woman smiled warmly at her while sipping her drink. Kate couldn't help the smile that curled the edges of her lips. There was just something about knowing that Betty was watching her that made her feel special. Just as quickly as it appeared, Kate's smile vanished at Leon's next words.
"Those were some pretty harsh words…you did a real number on that girl. She's had it pretty rough, especially at the factory," Leon said nonchalantly as he continued to puff on his cigarette.
This new piece of information was painful for Kate to hear. She knew Betty was suffering because of her, but it wasn't something she liked to be reminded of. But, what did he mean, 'especially at the factory?' Did everyone know about Betty's… Kate still didn't know what to call it.
"I was scared, Leon," Kate whispered, worried someone might overhear their conversation. It seemed like whenever she spoke with this man, he always found a way to make her feel like she was in the wrong.
"You were more scared of a kiss from a woman who loves you than going back to a father who beats you? Makes a lot of sense," Leon challenged, blowing smoke slowly from his lips and letting out a humorless chuckle. Kate had no idea how he knew about her father, but this was not how she had wanted her reunion with her friend to be.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Kate hissed fiercely. What did he know about her life? Her feelings? Nothing. She was never one to be angered easily, but she didn't feel like any of this was Leon's business.
"If you say so, Church Mouse," Leon tilted his hat at her with a smirk that made her even angrier. She strode away from him quickly and found Betty where she had left her.
"I would like to leave," Kate told Betty, deliberately not looking into her brown eyes. She didn't want Betty to see how upset she was, but it was no use. The blonde gently took her by the arms and tilted her chin with a soft touch of her finger. Kate was slightly uncomfortable at such an intimate gesture in this club full of people, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to them.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Betty asked, searching her eyes for answers that Kate couldn't give at the moment. The brown eyes staring back at her were full of worry and Kate wished for nothing more than for things to go back the way they were without all of these conflicting emotions. Kate's eyes fell on the dark bruise on Betty's temple and she could hear Leon's voice in her head telling her that she was to blame for the blonde's suffering.
"Can we just go? Please," Kate requested again and Betty nodded her head slowly.
"Of course, let me just tell Gladys that we're leaving," Betty stepped away for a moment to have a word with the wealthy woman who was busy dancing with a soldier. Kate watched as Gladys and Betty exchanged a few words before the blonde woman made her way back through the crowd towards her.
Without another word, Betty slipped her hand into Kate's and led her out of the club and into the crisp night air. The warmth of her hand was comforting to her rattled thoughts, but it was soon over as the blonde woman released her hand when they were free from the crowd. Betty stood near the curb and waved her arm for a cab and almost immediately one pulled up in front of them. Betty held the door open for her before sliding in beside her and giving the cab driver James' address.
The ride home was spent in complete silence and it held all the way until they were back in the apartment and Betty had dead bolted the door behind them. The blonde woman turned to look at her and Kate knew what she was going to ask before the words left her lips.
"Did something happen between you and Leon?" Betty asked hesitantly. It was clear the blonde was concerned about her well being, but she didn't know if it was her place.
"Nothing really. He just wasn't happy that I left without saying goodbye, that's all," she knew it was a terrible lie and Betty wouldn't believe it for a moment, but she didn't have the energy to come up with a better response.
Betty seemed to sense her unwillingness to elaborate and Kate watched as she pulled some pajamas out of her suitcase and made her way to the washroom. She waited a moment until the blonde came out of the washroom, changed and carrying her dress as well as the ointment and fresh bandages.
"You should let me change your bandages," Betty offered, setting her dress down, and holding the bandages up to emphasize her point.
Of course Betty hadn't believed a word Kate had said, but if the auburn haired woman didn't want to talk about what happened between her and Leon then she would respect her wishes.
"Oh, sure. Uhm, okay," Kate agreed, seeming unsure of how to proceed. Eventually she took a seat on the couch, unbuttoning the top of her dress. Betty looked away respectfully until Kate's back was turned.
Being as careful as possible, Betty gently pulled the edges of the bandages away from her skin. Once again she was forced to look at the destruction that Kate's father had ravaged on her. Taking a calming breath, Betty did her best to pull herself together. No matter how many times she saw the gashes and scars on Kate's pale back she never seemed prepared for the flood of emotions that assaulted her.
"Betty?" the way the red head said her name, caused her to pause what she was doing for a moment before carefully applying the ointment to her wounds.
"Yea, Kate," she answered, trying to focus on the task at hand. The last thing she wanted to do was cause the red head more pain. She began applying the bandages the way she had seen Gladys do it the night before.
"I'm…I…I had a really nice time today," Kate stuttered and Betty had a feeling that's not what she had wanted to say, but decided not to push it. Finishing up the last of the bandages, she stood and made her way over to the waste bin to toss the old ones.
"Me too. You should get some sleep. You've had a long day and you'll be back on the line with the blues tomorrow, so you're going to need all the rest you can get," Betty informed her without turning to look at her. She had seen Kate in her bra over a thousand times when they lived together in the boarding house, but she didn't want to make her uncomfortable.
"You're right…Good night, Betty," Kate said simply and she could hear the other woman stand and make her way down the hall.
"Good night," Betty responded after a moment, waiting until she heard the sound of the door pulling closed did she move from her spot. Leaning her forehead against the wall, Betty squeezed her eyes shut and tried to settle her thoughts. She flipped the switch on the standing lamp off, ready for darkness.
Still not familiar with the layout of the furniture, she stubbed her toe more than a few times before finding the couch and collapsing down onto it.
It had been such a long day and her emotions had been taken on a rollercoaster, but she was happy. She kept telling herself that Kate was safe and that's all that mattered.
A noise in the night startled Kate awake.
She bolted into a sitting position, straining her ears to listen for it again.
Creaking floorboards… heavy footsteps...too heavy to be Betty's. She flew out of bed and sprinted to the door, checking to see if it was locked, only to find that there was no lock.
Kate's heart was pounding as she pressed her ear against the door and listened only to hear the footsteps getting louder, whoever it was getting closer.
It has to be my father… her thoughts raced as she thought about what her father was probably going to do to her if he got through this door. Then an ice cold shiver made its way up her spine as she remembered a critical detail.
Betty's out there…
Panicking, Kate grabbed the door handle and was about to throw the door open. She didn't know what she was going to do but she had to do something to protect Betty. Her heart was beating so fast she thought for sure that it would jump right out of her chest.
With a great lurch, the door flew open and she fell back, landing hard on the wood floor. In the doorway, stood the imposing figure of Vernon Rowley, Bible in hand. Kate scrambled backwards and slipped trying to get up, giving her father enough time to close the distance between them.
"Help! Betty! Please, help!" Kate screamed as her father approached her. She was frozen in place, too terrified to move. Her father's cold dark eyes were filled with fire as he grabbed her by the throat.
He held the Bible in her face as he choked her violently. She could see his lips move, but she couldn't hear him through the ringing in her ears. She tried clawing at his hands, but she felt powerless.
"Kate!" She could hear Betty's voice through a haze, but all she could see was her father's angry eyes.
"Kate! Wake up! Please, Kate!"
All of a sudden her father disappeared and she was lying in bed, drenched in sweat. The sheets were twisted all around her body and her hair was obscuring her vision. As soon as she had this thought a gentle hand slid the auburn curls out of her eyes and Betty's face appeared above her.
"It's okay…it was just a dream, you're okay, Kate," Betty reassured her and she sat up slowly, running a shaky hand through her hair. It had all felt so real…
"I…my father…," Kate struggled to form coherent thoughts as Betty sat beside her on the edge of the bed. She struggled to even out her panicked breaths as the pounding her chest began slowing.
"It was a nightmare," Betty lifted a hand and made soothing circles on her upper back, a safe distance from her wounds. The gesture calmed her a little and she allowed her eyes to slide closed for a moment, taking in the feeling of Betty's hand on her.
"I can stay if you want… I can bring the couch in here," Betty offered hesitantly already standing up, but Kate caught her hand.
She couldn't form words. What would she have said anyway? She just hoped that Betty could read her thoughts in the dark. The blonde seemed to have gotten the message because she sat back down on the bed slowly.
Kate straightened out the covers and lied down, sliding to the far side of the bed to give Betty room to climb in. At that moment, she couldn't care less about her conflicted thoughts; she just really needed Betty to stay with her.
Betty stared down at the red head's face still shiny with sweat, and weighed her options.
When she had heard, Kate shout for her from the other room, for a terrifying moment she thought that Vernon Rowley had found them.
Thinking only of protecting Kate, Betty had jumped from the couch and sprinted to the bedroom. She flung the door open and her eyes flashed around the room looking for the gray haired street preacher.
Her gaze eventually fell on the bed. Seeing Kate thrashing about, Betty had quickly closed the distance.
This had been one of the worst nightmares Betty had ever witnessed Kate have. Usually she simply tossed and turned and every once in a while she would groan in distress. This time was different. Hearing Kate scream out like that terrified Betty and the pounding in her chest was just starting to subside. She had to keep telling herself that Kate was indeed safe.
She could honestly say that hated Vernon Rowley more than she had ever hated another human being. He was the reason for all of Kate's pain and nightmares and if he ever showed his ugly face near her again Betty swore he was going to regret it.
Directing her attention back to Kate, Betty made her decision. The red head needed her there, so she would stay…just for tonight.
Betty cautiously slid her feet under the covers, giving Kate the opportunity to change her mind. Sensing no protest from the red head, she laid down and rested her head on the pillow. Almost as soon as she had gotten comfortable, Betty could feel Kate scoot closer to her in the large bed.
She laid completely still and waited for the contact she knew was coming. After what seemed like eternity, Betty felt Kate's warm hand wrap itself around her arm followed by her cheek coming to rest on her shoulder.
Betty released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and relaxed into the mattress. Her heart ached, thinking about Kate's earlier troubled sleep. It would be amazing if the red head didn't drop from exhaustion during the day, with the small amount of sleep she was getting tonight.
More than anything, Betty wanted to remain awake in order to cherish this moment for as long as possible, but she could the long day tugging at her consciousness. Her last thought before succumbing to darkness once again was how perfectly Kate's body fit next to her own.
Thank you so much for reading! Let me know how you feel about how this story is going!
