A/N: This chapter gave me a bit of a hard time so I apologize if it isn't quite as satisfying as the previous ones. But I promise the good stuff is coming. Thanks as always for the reviews and your enthusiasm.

Disclaimer: Nope. I still own nothing but the words written on this page.


One moment they were standing by the door, bidding each other farewell for the evening, and the next their lips were locked in a fervent, frenzied kiss that neither wanted to end. It couldn't have happened any quicker, thought Megan. She eased into the cab, shut the door, and glanced toward the entrance of the apartment building before the cab pulled out of its parking spot. Kate had already gone inside. Letting out a breath, Megan settled back into her seat and started massaging her throbbing temples with the tips of her fingers. A subtle dizziness was beginning to set in. Whether the alcohol or shock of sharing a kiss with the blonde was to blame, she couldn't decide—nor did she care to. The answer was obvious.

Megan closed her eyes and sighed. Her mind wasted no time in recreating the passionate exchange.

The tension between them had been building for some time, she reflected, except neither chose to acknowledge it as a mutual attraction—by choice or for professional reasons, again, she didn't know. She and everyone in the city, it seemed, had assumed their constant bickering, arguments, and disagreements had been attributed to the head-on collision of their strong personalities. And to a degree, the assumption had been correct. Megan wasn't accustomed to being told what to do, obey rules that weren't her own. But when she lost it all and ended up at the Medical Examiner's Office, she quickly realized she'd met her match in Dr. Kate Murphy.

Looking back on the last couple days—weeks, even—Megan realized she had been thinking about the gorgeous blonde more than was appropriate for a friend to do. Yes, she had grown to care about her coworkers, particularly the ones she worked closest with—Peter, Ethan, Curtis—but with Kate it had always been different. And it wasn't until that night and the kiss that Megan finally understood what had set their relationship apart from the rest, why it could never be clearly defined. What now? Megan wondered. And she suspected Kate was asking herself the same question. A lot had been left unsaid with her abrupt departure and for a fleeting second, Megan considered telling the driver to turn the car around and take her back to the blonde's apartment. Where that conversation may have led, was another unanswered question.

"You feeling okay back there?" the cab driver asked. He'd been watching Megan through the rear view mirror.

Megan's eyes snapped open at the sound of the guy's gravely voice. "Yeah, of course." She glanced out the window and frowned at the sight of familiar buildings—some less than ten minutes away from her place. How long was I out? The trip home seemed to have taken a lot less time than she remembered.

"Just makin' sure," he said. "'Cause two days ago, this young guy hopped into my cab, lookin' like the picture of health when, for no apparent reason, he starts hyperventilatin' and passes out right there in the back seat. Damn near gave me a heart attack!" Megan watched him shake his full head of gray hair and clutch his chest. "By the time the paramedics got to him, he was already dead." He paused. "I tell ya, lady, I'm gettin' too old for this."

"Well, I can assure you, Mr.-"

"Ed Zamborzjqa."

"—Mr. Zamborzjqa, that aside from feeling a bit hungover, I am in perfect health. No need to worry." She flashed the old man a warm, reassuring smile.

"Thanks, lady."

Megan closed her eyes again but a chiming in her purse prevented her from slipping into another deep state of pensive relaxation. With a frustrated groan, she rummaged through her purse and fetched her cell phone. A picture message from Lacey had just arrived. Megan downloaded the attachment and chuckled at the humorous image her daughter had sent. Lacey stood next to her friend Morgan, each holding the remnants of a cupcake, and their faces covered in what she assumed was frosting.

Having a blast! the message read. Won't be home 'til after 9 a.m. Staying at Morgan's for breakfast. Hope you're having fun on your girls' night out with Kate. Love you!

9 a.m. Got it, Megan replied. But I still want you to call me! Sleep well, baby. Love you too!

The cab came to a stop.

"Here we are, lady."

Megan looked up. She was home. "Ah, thank you." She gathered her things, zipped up her jacket, and paid the fare. Before exiting though, she leaned forward and said, "I noticed you clutched your chest earlier. Now, was that just a figure of speech or has your heart been bothering you?" She liked the kind, old man. He reminded Megan of her grandfather.

He turned, squinted his eyes and cast her a suspicious glance. "You a doctor or somethin'?" She nodded. He relaxed, shook his head and waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, just a figure of speech. But it did scare the hell out of me. Thanks for asking though." He sighed ruefully. "When you get to be my age and get to meet as many people as I've met, well, you feel every loss—even if they're perfect strangers."

"I know how you feel." Though she never got the opportunity to personally know the victims while they were alive—except Dani—she got to learn about who they once were, how they will always be remembered and by whom. "Take care, Mr. Zamborzjqa, and have a good night."

Megan quickly made her way inside the building and stepped into the elevator where she promptly removed her shoes. Her feet ached, terribly, bringing to mind that memorable quote "Shoes are for fashion, not function". Clearly the person had never met women like her or Kate. In addition to seeking justice for the deceased, the two women obviously shared a passion for designer clothing, bags, accessories, but most noticeably, wearing stilettos. They were both on their feet most of the day. And regardless of the toll it often took on their bodies, not once had they heard the other complain. Huh, yet another commonality, she mused.

Megan caught a glimpse of her reflection on the mirrored walls of the elevator. Her lipstick was smeared, her eyes were mildly bloodshot, and her expertly coiffed red tresses were slightly mussed—all clear signs of a time well spent. The biggest indicator of the evening's success, though, was the broad, irrepressible smile playing across her face. But the unexpected turn of events—admitting her attraction to Kate with a searing kiss—left her elated yet confused. Although she'd never been opposed to the idea, Megan had never considered a romantic relationship with another woman. She suspected the same about Kate, though little was known about her past.

The elevator dinged and as the doors curtained open, Megan gasped when she saw Aiden standing in the hall with a bouquet of roses in his arms. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her smile disappearing.

Taken aback by her lack of enthusiasm, Aiden said, "Uh, it's nice to see you too." He reached out, taking her hand, and pulled her toward him. Megan hesitated a moment—she felt self-conscious about her appearance—but eventually gave into the embrace. It really was nice to see him. But when he attempted to kiss her, she turned away, offering her cheek, and then wrapped her arms around his neck instead. With the back of her hand she wiped away the traces of smeared lipstick from her mouth.

"When did you get back?" she asked once they drew apart.

"About an hour ago. I- I didn't call or text because I wanted to surprise you." The only response he received was a silent "ah". Aiden leaned in to try for another kiss but, again, she dodged it. He remained still, confused, studying Megan through narrow eyes. Immediately he picked up on her discomfort, her uneasiness. Her embrace seemed forced and, despite making an effort to appear so, she didn't look at all thrilled to see him. "Is... something wrong, Megan?"

She scoffed and turned, reluctantly gesturing toward her apartment. "It's best we discuss this inside."

Not one to get easily discouraged, Aiden nodded and followed her inside. "I bought these on my way from the airport." He put the bouquet on the kitchen counter. "Blooms as large as these are rare for this time of the year. The cool weather..." He trailed off as Megan removed her jacket and left the room. She returned seconds later wearing slippers. "So what did you want to discuss?"

"Us." She approached him slowly. "Our relationship, or lack thereof, I should say."


Kate stood in the middle of the kitchen, barefoot, looking around her spacious apartment. So empty, she thought.

The experience back at the bar had served to remind her of how difficult it was for successful, independent women like herself to find a suitable person to date, someone who wasn't threatened by her career or success. Though she'd never seen it as a priority, let alone a necessity, Kate realized that companionship did come with its fair share of benefits. Support in trying times being the most important benefit of all. She'd seen plenty of those, especially in the last couple months—getting demoted, nearly dying. Curiously, through both experiences Megan had been by her side. Soon after, Kate realized, her attraction to the redhead began to surface.

Taking small sips of the strong black coffee she'd brewed after arriving, Kate made her way into the dark living room. Clad in nothing but a green, silk camisole and panties, she shivered as she settled down on the sofa and reached to turn on a single lamp. She preferred to keep the room dimly lit. Without a blanket to keep herself warm, Kate brought her knees up to her chest—carefully so as not to spill any coffee on the furniture—and wrapped her arms around them. How she wished a certain redhead's arms could replace her own.

Earlier when they were standing by the entrance kissing, Kate had fought the urge to tell Megan to send the cab on its way and come upstairs with her to finish what they'd started. She probably would have accepted too, if the unyielding passion with which she reciprocated was any indication. Their actions may have been impulsive, perhaps even irresponsible but, at that point, both had ceased to care.

Kate closed her eyes and bit her lower lip, remembering the sensation of Megan's playful nipping of the sensitive flesh; the warmth of their joined bodies as she pulled them closer. Her body tingled. The kiss had done nothing more than fuel her need to touch the creamy, silky skin she'd only been able to caress in her dreams.

She put her coffee down on the side table by the lamp and stretched her long legs out. Kate reached for her phone. She wanted to call Megan, hear her voice, ask how she felt about what they'd done less than an hour ago, what it meant. Though a lot had already been answered, many more questions arose in her mind. Kate shoved them aside for the time being and, instead of calling, opted for a text message.


His eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean?"

"I tried, Aiden, I really did. But this—the distance—is not going to work for me."

He lowered his head, almost in defeat, Megan noted.. "Megan, I-"

Her cell phone chimed. Megan glanced down and nearly smiled when she saw the blonde's name on the screen. Kate, she thought. But now was not the time for answering messages.

"No, listen to me." Her voice quivered but maintained its determination. "I haven't seen or heard from you in over six weeks. I know it's been a while for me—being involved with someone—but last time I checked, that's not how a healthy relationship is supposed to function." She paused and in a calmer tone added, "I took a chance on us even though I was terrified. And for a time, yeah, it worked out but... then you left. I know it was for work, I understand that better than anyone, but... couldn't you have taken five minutes out of your 'schedule' to call or send me a text?" He kept his eyes downcast. "You can't expect me to wait around forever."

A deafening silence then followed.

Finally he spoke. "You've found someone in my absence?" It sounded more like a statement than a question to her ears.

She chanced a glance at the phone then looked back up at him. "I... I'm not sure... yet. But-"

He raised his hand. "No, it's fine, Megan. I get it." Aiden started toward the door, resigned. "Ironic. I was the one going on about making this work only if you wanted it to work. I ended up being the one screwing everything up. I'm- I'm sorry, Megan." With that, he left.

Wiping away a few stray tears, Megan took a deep breath. She didn't feel quite as devastated as she'd expected. Perhaps there was something to be said for being apart for long periods of time. It made breaking up easier to do; less pain, less heartache. Megan walked to the counter, picked up the bouquet of roses, and put them in a vase. "Beautiful," she said quietly. Reaching for her phone, she smiled and replied to Kate's text.

Hey.

To Be Continued...


A/N: I don't know if their breakup made any sense but, as much as I like Aiden, I wanted to get him the hell out of the picture as soon as possible, lol. More KEGAN to come!