Chapter Seven

Cat was sitting on the counter in Red's house on the base with Lake in front of her. Her legs were loosely wrapped around his waist and her arms wrapped possessively around his shoulders. They were listening to Red tell the hilarious story of how he proposed to his girlfriend, Connie over the months leave.

It had been a weird month, almost like Catherine had been going through it in a dream. She could remember waking up in Kelly's apartment and he was looking at her. He told her she was beautiful. It was some how too perfect. They continued to see each other through out the whole break, either spending the night in his place or hers. Angelica had showed up one morning to find Lake opening the door in only his boxers.

Angelica had told her she was dead jealous of her. Catherine couldn't help but smile at the reminder. Angelica had always been the 'better' one. She got better grades, had bigger boobs, got more boys attention, got better presents…everything always happened better to Angelica then came Lake, ubber-sexy marine, built like a brick wall, intense, passionate, rebel and he was all Cat's.

"So I reach into the picnic basket and realise that I forgot the champagne." There was a collective giggle around the kitchen as Red continued his tail.

They were heading back to the ship tomorrow and Catherine was dreading it. They had both agreed that when they were working that they were only colleagues. That was it. Catherine was having a hard time imagining it. Not waking up in his arms. No more kisses. No more Lake except for the hard ass marine side of him.

"So finally she said yes." Red finished the story and looked down at Connie. She had been living in his house on the base for a year now and they were really good together. Catherine was certain they were going to be happy.

She was glad for them. "You guys go and do manly things, drink beer, BBQ, spit, fight, swear, hammer up some dry wall, just make sure those steaks are done!" Connie said shooing her fiancé out of the kitchen.

Kelly hooked his arms under Cat's leg and stood up, picking her up too. "Oh no she stays here." Kelly looked slightly surprised that someone with a 5'4" frame like Connie would actually stand up to him. But dejectedly he deposited Cat on the counter again. She kissed him on the neck.

"See you in a few."

"Yeah," He said.

"Man you make me sick we will only be outside!" Silk said. He shook his head. Off all their teammates he had taken the announcement of Lake and Cat's relationship the hardest. He had always like Cat and always hit on her. Cat supposed he was pretty sure that Lake would kick his ass if he tried anything now.

"Man I remember when Michael treated me like that. Mm, mm I miss that, but you just wait hun," Catherine looked at Slo's wife Jennifer. Her Texan accent was so cool and she was like the mother to the entire team. "It'll fade." Cat wasn't sure if she was talking to Cat or Connie but who ever she was talking to Cat didn't like the sound of it.

"No it won't Jen, you just gotta spice things up a little." Connie said chopping carrots.

"Spice thing up? Hun when you have four kids I'll ask you how much you feel like spicing things up at the end of the day." Connie giggled at the remark and Catherine felt uncomfortably out of place.

She didn't know what to say to either of them. They were now discussing the price of toilet paper. Cat ran her hand through her hair. She was unbelievably out of place. Ask her how to set up a land mine, she could do it. Ask her to set a timed charge, she could do it. Ask her to cook a casserole and you may have well have asked her to fly. She didn't know what it was like to feel the crushing sense of lost to see your man go of on an aircraft carrier and not know if he was coming home. She didn't know what it entailed to be a housewife.

"So have you met Kelly's parents yet?" She looked up sharply at Connie who had asked the sudden question. It was so weird to hear him referred to as Kelly.

"Uh, no…we have only been together a month."

"Oh, well no worries there, you just have to tell his mother that her son is the light of your life and that you would love for her to teach you how to cook his favourite meals…. even if you already know how to cook." Connie and Jennifer laughed knowingly at the last part. Catherine just sat there and felt her palms getting sweaty. How could she say something clever, funny and relevant to these women?

"Right," She answered sounding like a complete twit.

Jennifer smiled in her direction, "That's a girl, now how bought you sauté these onions for the burgers." She handed Catherine a pan full of sliced onions and Cat stared at them.

"Excuse me?"


"Babe?"

No Response.

"Babe."

Still nothing, if Catherine didn't know better she would have sworn Lake was asleep. They were lying in his apartment, her back to his chest; his arms were wrapped around her.

"Kelly!"

"Mmm, what?" He hated being referred to as Kelly it got him every time.

"Am I a good girlfriend?" Lake yawned in her ear.

"I dunno," He rolled over and looked at the clock, "It if four in the fucking morning Cat!"

"Firstly, you were very awake twenty minutes ago and secondly, what kind of a response is that? 'I dunno'."

He squinted at her trying to get her to focus. "Why?" He asked narrowing his eyes staring at her.

"I dunno." She shrugged lifting her self up by the elbow. "I can't cook…I can do laundry, suppose that's good." She bit her lower lip and ran her hand through her hair.

"Where is this coming from?" He asked rubbing his hand over his face.

"I dunno, just being with Connie and Jennifer I guess, they are…. house wife's. I hate to think I am letting you down in some way." Lake looked at her.

"What the hell are you going on about?"

"What?"

"Look, if I didn't like you I would have slept with you," he closed his eyes obviously believing the discussion to be over.

"Is that, I mean, are we only ya know…?" He opened his eyes and stared at her.

"No I don't know."

"Are we only in this for the sex?" She bit her lower lip, "I mean it is great but…"

Lake sat up and got out of bed. He looked amazingly hot in his light blue boxers. He started pacing at the end of the bed. Catherine sat up and watched him.

"Look, I mean come on, you know I am not all ya know touchy feely."

"I never implied that you were."

"And I mean you knew what you were signing up for." Catherine furrowed her brow at his words.

"I didn't sign up for anything." He looked at her.

"Oh come on Cat," He crawled on to the bed until he was close to her. "Can't we just go back to bed?"

"No, and technically we are already in bed."

"Err!" He rolled over and put both hands over his face. "Why are you doing this to me?" He asked the words muffled by his hands.

"I am not doing anything you are the one who is working yourself into a state."

He looked at her his eyes wide with annoyance. "You started it."

She smiled at him, "Forget it,"

"Well now I can't." He sighed and sat up beside her. "You know me Cat, I don't …"

"Talk?"

"Yeah, but I mean when it come down to it…" She continued to look at him quizzically even though he obviously wanted her to stop him, "I care about you Cat." He looked down at the bed sheets.

"Even if I can't cook?" She asked quietly. He looked at her.

"Even if you can't cook…. which you can't." She laughed. He put his hand on her cheek. "Kiss me." And she did.