"Kerry, we're not talking..."

Kerry looked up and smiled guiltily, "Right you are Kim. Though, if you think about it, we have never really talked. Our conversations have always come in spurts and jerks."

Kim wiggled her eyebrows, "Ayup...so...?"

Kerry rolled her eyes, "Since you are off the clock, I'll tell you. Don't you tell every one of your patients that people in relationships have to communicate?" Kim nodded, "Well, we really don't do

that...never have. Probably why we got so screwed up. If I had just said 'I'm going to risk my job, career, what I thought was my whole being to keep you at County' instead of 'We have to do

something' Or if I had told you that I was scared shitless when you came out of Romano's office. I know, somewhere in my heart that you would never hurt me, or betray any confidence that we have,

but this is my...Achilles heel. I will give everything to someone without them even asking. A lot of the time they are in a coma, or don't even know what I am doing for them. But, when someone does that

for me, I...I don't believe them. You never asked for anything, and so I never gave anything. Look, I know that I did some pretty ass backwards things in the past year, and there is one thing that I really haven't ever said. Sure I said we have something good, I care for you, we are...we were great friends,

and I know that this is most likely too little too late, but Kimberly Legaspi...I love you."

Kim opened her mouth a few times before she could respond. But finally her mouth caught up with her brain. "Wow, you're right, and I think...that one of the things that I did wrong in this relationship

was that I was always on the clock. I analyzed you like you were one of my patients, and yet, I never really saw what you were going through. I should have remembered to the time that I was still coming

to terms with my homosexuality. Maybe I should have asked something of you, come right out and said what I waited until that letter to write. I was angry, but not at you, I was angry at what you did." Kim smiled softly, "Or didn't do in that meeting. I'm not sure what I can do to prove that I too...love you Kerry Weaver."

Kerry's face lit up with her smile, "Where do we start though?"

Kim also smiled as she leaned back into Kerry, who was sitting behind her because of Kim's cast. "Well, hmm...let's think about this. Thanksgiving is coming up..."

Kerry nodded, "And how about if I take you to work every day. Because you sure as heck can't operate your car with that foot."

Kim crossed her arms and pretended to pout, and Kerry waited with a smile on her face. Kim's eyes got large and she leaned back to look at Kerry. "Wait a gosh darn second there, you would be taking me to

work...with you...when you go to work?" Kerry nodded again, "So, the Ape-man convinced you then?"

Kerry shook her head negatively, "Nope, Mark did."

Kim looked extremely confused, "Why would he convince you to take the job that is his?"

Kerry smiled sadly, "Because as of about five minutes ago, he gave notice to Robert. Mark doesn't want many people to know, but the tumor is back. They don't know why, or how, or much of anything. But I think that Mark wants to spend as much time with Ella as possible. He and I have never really been the closest of friends or even acquaintances, we have stabbed each other in the back in the name of different causes on more than one occasion, but I gave him my word that I would talk to Robert tomorrow." Kim nodded slowly, and Kerry smiled and tapped Kim on the head. "Weren't you supposed to tell me something, or give me something when you were outside my door breaking your ankle?"

Kim slapped her hand against her forehead. "Dude, I plumb forgot. But I guess you got the message huh?"

Kerry shook her head and laughed, "Yes, yes I did. So, tonight has been...fun...but now..."

Kim rolled her eyes and sighed, "You'll drive me home...I know..." She slowly turned to face Kerry and put on her best puppy dog face. "Can I at least have a good night and I'm sorry that my snotty bratty

neighbor broke your ankle kiss?"

Kerry pretended to think about it for a moment, "Well, if you insist." Their lips met and melded as if they had never been separated in the first place.

Kim finally had to come up for air and was gasping for it while Kerry sat there as calm as can be. Kim slowly started the project of getting herself mobile again but had to know, "Okay, I have to know this, how in the world do you do that. You are never out of breath? Even..."

Kerry helped Kim put on her light jacket and the two of them crutched over to the door. "Even...yes...well...it is a result of my few years as an instrument player. Circular breathing."

Kim looked up in surprise, "What instrument."

Kerry shook her finger as they got into her car, "Nope, that question is best answer in our next session Ms. Legaspi."


Fin - June 11th, 2001