[SO sorry for the delay, yet again.]
Alex had tried her best not to resent what the pregnancy was doing to her body. She knew that, of all people, this innocent baby girl was not to blame for the horror that had happened to her. But tonight her large baby bump made it hard for her to cradle Olivia as she wanted to, and she wanted to, more than anything.
Poor, sweet Olivia had the migraine from hell, and Alex wanted to take care of her, to help her to feel better. She did what she could, encumbered by her bulk and sore herself – her back hurt, her feet were swollen, and from time to time the baby kicked, sending so many conflicting emotions through her that she found hard to handle.
Olivia moaned, and blinked, closing her eyes immediately against the dim light. Even that hurt. She couldn't remember ever feeling this bad. She felt cold wash down her spine, and sweat broke out on her upper lip. Before she realized what was happening, Alex's hands raised her gently and supported her head as she heaved into the towel that Alex had grabbed. Her stomach had been empty for hours, but she couldn't stop. The retching sent shards of pain rocketing through her head. She just wanted it to be over. She needed it to be over.
Olivia felt soft hands lower her back onto her back, and a icy, wet washcloth was placed against her forehead. Alex shouldn't be doing this for her. In just under a month, Alex was going to give birth to her rapist's baby. She had enough to deal with. "Lex," Olivia could tell that her voice was weak.
"Shh," Alex said, smoothing her hand down her cheek.
A moment later, Olivia felt a warm washcloth wiping her face. Her breathing became less panicked as she relaxed into Alex's touch. She was safe. She was barely aware when Alex rolled her carefully onto her side, and efficiently inserted a second dose of suppositories. By the time Alex had eased her onto her back she was, mercifully, asleep.
Alex just wanted to cry. She hated that Olivia was suffering so much, and all because of her. She had only seen Olivia this bad once, and that was during a horrific abuse case and she had found the mutilated body of a three-year-old girl, the same girl that she had gotten close to, and been forced to return to an awful family situation because they couldn't find the evidence they needed to put her into the care of the system. Olivia took everything so much to heart; she gave all that she had to those that needed her. That was why she was so good at her job. It was why she was the best girlfriend Alex could imagine. And it was why she was sick now.
Alex tried to stifle a yawn. She looked at her watch. 4.34am. She hoped that Olivia would now get some good quality sleep. In her sleep, Olivia reached out for Alex. Alex took the washcloth from her brow and dipped it into the iced water again, wringing it out before replacing it. Olivia sighed. Alex slid into the bed next to her, smiling slightly as Olivia reached for her. She snuggled up close.
In her sleep, Olivia instinctively pushed a hand under Alex's pajama top and cupped a breast gently. Alex started; since her attack, Olivia had been very careful not to touch her unexpectedly. But she was sick now, and not in control. Alex waited for the panic to come, and then smiled when it didn't. She had imagined that anyone's fingers on her breast would frighten her, would bring back horrific memories of her rapist. He had focused on her breasts for a long time, his hands and his mouth on them. She even had a small scar on her left breast where he had bitten her.
But this was Olivia's touch. It wasn't even sexual. Olivia was claiming her; gently, but surely. Lovingly. And Olivia was being comforted by the feel of her. Very softly, not wanting to disturb Olivia, Alex placed her hand gently over Olivia's, reveling in being able to hold her to her. She knew – and she knew Olivia knew – that it would be a long time before their sexual relationship was back to where it had once been. But she also knew that she wanted nothing more than to be held by Olivia. They would be okay. One day, they would get it all back. Until that point, she could only pray that she would be enough for Olivia.
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6.30am
Annie turned over in bed and stretched. There was an empty space next to her. She sat up, disconcerted, and then realized she could hear the shower running. She smiled.
Casey felt warm hands reach around her from behind, and she leant back into the strong body. She felt Annie's hand grasp her left breast and whimpered involuntarily. Annie's lips kissed her neck.
"Good morning, beautiful," Annie murmured, unable to resist moving her other hand to cup Casey's center from behind.
Casey jerked at the unexpected, but oh so welcome, contact. "Who is this?" Casey's tone was teasing.
"I'm hurt," Annie turned her in her arms, so that they were facing. She didn't think she had ever seen a more beautiful sight; water cascaded invitingly down the hottest body she had ever encountered. But the best thing of all was Casey's smile – mischievous, cocky, lustful. "I had hoped I would be a little more memorable." She saw Casey's eyes glaze over as she took in her body.
"Oh God yes," Casey's already-low voice was deep with desire. She dropped a soft kiss on Annie's nipple, desire pulsing through her when she realized just how hard it was. She lifted a heavy breast in one hand, her tongue darting out and teasing the jeweled bud. "Memorable," her voice faded. "Oh yes, professor. You're definitely memorable." Casey was barely aware as Annie pressed her against the cold tile wall. She just knew that she wanted her hands on her. In her. She wanted all of her.
"How long?" Annie's voice hitched.
"Huh?"
Annie laughed. "Are you that articulate in court?" she squeezed a pink nipple, trying not to laugh as she watched Casey forcing herself to try and concentrate on the question. "How long do we have? What time do you have to be at work?"
"Need to leave in 40 minutes. Fuck," Casey exclaimed, as Annie bit down gently. "Christ, Annie. No. Don't stop. Fuck. Oh God yes. You are amazing," she gasped, as an erotic mix of pleasure and pain coursed through her. There was no doubting that Annie knew her way around the female body. Casey arched against her lover, trying to increase the friction. And then Annie kissed her; so slowly and tenderly that she thought she might explode. One minute Casey thought that the only thing that would satisfy her would be a good hard fuck – and then she found herself caught up in the gentlest, most loving kiss. She didn't think she could ever get enough of this woman.
Annie drew back after a few minutes, loving the flush on Casey's sensitive skin. "You are very special," she whispered, and kissed her again. "So special." Annie kissed her way down Casey's long neck, loving the taste of her, loving even more the small, inarticulate noises that Casey made. Casey's hips bucked as Annie suckled on a particular point in her neck, and Annie smiled as she made a mental note. Annie was discovering what turned Casey on the most, and she was a quick study. By the time she had reached her breasts, Casey was gasping, her center throbbing.
Annie felt Casey's hand on her head, and grinned as she realized what she wanted. She knelt in front of her, lifting Casey's right leg over her shoulder to make it easier for her to worship her with her tongue.
Casey convulsed at the first touch of Annie's tongue, giving herself up completely. Somehow Annie seemed to know exactly what she needed. Casey exploded in Annie's mouth, but Annie kept going and, incredibly, only seconds after her first orgasm, Casey knew that she was going to come again.
Annie coaxed Casey to four mind-blowing climaxes, and laughed when Casey finally collapsed into her arms, barely able to speak. "That... you … oh Jesus. Amazing," Casey panted, trying to catch her breath. She ran her hand down Annie's tattooed arm, even more spellbound by the colors in the wet of the shower which still pounded over them both.
"You're a magician. A witch," Casey grinned, as she slowly recovered herself. Her fingers found Annie's nipple, and she laughed when Annie moaned at the slightest touch. "It's your turn."
"No time," Annie said, trying to ignore the invading fingers. "You've gotta get to work."
"I don't think this is going to take long," Casey teased, shifting in Annie's arms so she could reach her target. "I suspect...," she eased her fingers into warm flesh, chuckling at what she found. "I have evidence that this is going to be quick," she started to thrust, watching Annie's eyes as they lost focus. "In fact, it is becoming clear that … that's it, baby. You're so close," she had never seen anything so beautiful as Annie's face as she surrendered to her attentions. "That's it. Come for me," her thrusts increased and Annie shut her eyes, her breathing coming in short gasps. "Let it go." Annie cried out as she came in Casey's hand.
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"Please tell me I can see you tonight?" Annie looked at her watching, knowing that Casey had only five minutes before she left for work.
Casey did up the last button her her shirt. "I think I can make time for you," she teased. Her face fell as she thought of something. "When do you have to go back to Chicago?" her tone was suddenly serious.
"Tomorrow morning," Annie told her. "It's a 15-hour ride on the bike, and I have students on Monday."
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9.30am
"Thank you doctor," Alex kept her voice low as she showed the doctor out of the apartment. "I'm sorry if I wasted your time."
The doctor smiled kindly. "You were worried," she said. "It's always better to be sure. She'll sleep now. I've given her a sedative, and she just needs rest. Rest and fluids. And somebody to take care of her," she smiled again. "I think you have all that in hand."
Alex nodded. Olivia had not wanted her to call the doctor, had insisted that she was feeling better, but Alex was anxious and wanted to make sure that it was only a migraine.
She went back into the bedroom, and smoothed her hand over Olivia's brow. Olivia murmured at her soft touch. She was about to get back into bed with her when she caught sight of her phone flashing on the nightstand. She had turned off the sound and the vibration, but as she looked over, she could see that Annie was calling her. She picked up the phone and went into the living room, closing the door behind her.
"Hey blondie," Annie's tone was light.
"Hey A-J," Alex tried to match her, but she couldn't hide the tension, and exhaustion, in her voice.
"What's up, sweetheart?" Annie was instantly alert. "Is it the baby?"
"No," Alex kept her voice low, knowing how good Olivia's hearing was. "Liv had a bad night. Awful migraine, worst she's had."
"Did you call the doctor?"
"Just been. Says she's okay. She's resting now," Alex hated that her voice cracked. She was just so relieved. One thing that she and Olivia had in common was that they would both rather suffer pain than see the other one suffering. "She's okay. How are you?"
"Worried about you," Annie said. "You sound awful, Alis... Alex," she laughed as she almost used the name that Alex had had in Witness Protection. "What can I do? What do you need?"
"I'm fine," Alex insisted. "Truly. Are you coming over this morning?" she wanted to see as much as she could of Annie, and was aware that she would be riding back to Chicago the following day.
"I was going to, but I think we both know you need to sleep," Annie said.
Alex felt a pang of disappointment mixed with relief. She was almost out on her feet. She just needed a few hours' sleep, and to feel Olivia next to her. "Can you maybe come this afternoon?"
"I'd love to see you, but only if you are up for it. Text me," Annie instructed. "Later on. If you want company. If I don't hear from you, I won't worry. Hey, I'm coming back real soon. It's no biggie."
"Does that mean it went well with Casey?" Alex remembered that Annie and Casey had had a date.
"It went amazingly," Annie's voice held a note of awe. "I mean... anyone can see she's beautiful. But I had no idea just how … how perfect she is," she chuckled at her own sappiness.
Alex smiled, despite her own exhaustion. "Perfect enough to tame a certain English professor?" she teased.
"Maybe so. Maybe so," Annie couldn't help smiling. "Go to bed, blondie," she admonished gently. "And kiss that girlfriend of yours for me. I might see you later."
"Love you, A-J," Alex said, grateful and almost tearful that her friend had come back into her life.
"Love you too, hot stuff. Bed," she hung up the phone before Alex could reply.
Alex smiled to herself, and wiped away a tear. She went back into the bedroom, and slid into bed next to Olivia. Very gently, she took Olivia's hand and pulled it to her breast, smiling as the fingers automatically molded to the soft swell. She hoped that Olivia would sleep for a long time.
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"Chinese or pizza?" Annie demanded, as soon as Casey picked up the phone.
"Huh?" Casey was confused.
"Tonight!" Annie said. "Your place. We're eating in. I'll bring the food."
"No more fancy restaurants?" Casey teased.
"Oh there will be plenty more restaurants. Hotels. I'm going to spoil you, Red. But tonight," Annie's nipples tightened just at the thought. "Tonight, there's no way I'm going to be able to keep my hands to myself. So, in the interests of not being arrested for public indecency, I'm thinking we can have take-out. So. Chinese or pizza?"
"Thai," Casey smirked, and hung up the phone.
Annie stared at her phone and laughed. Casey was not going to be a walkover. She liked that about her. She liked everything about her. A second later, the phone beeped. She opened her messages.
Beef stir fry. Rice. And a nice Thai beer. I should be back at my place just after 6pm. See you soon after?
Annie chuckled.
I'll be there Red.
Casey smiled when she looked at her phone. It had been a long time since a woman had intrigued her – and delighted her – as much as Annie Bartlett. She tried not to think about the fact that Annie's life was in a whole different city.
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3pm
Annie knocked softly on the door, smiling as Alex opened the door to her. She gave Alex a warm hug, and held out a bag. "Groceries," she explained. "Soup, bread, cheese, fruit. That sort of thing," she kept her voice low, aware that Olivia was still sleeping. "Mama always said to bring soup when anyone was sick."
Alex hugged her again. "That's perfect. Sit, I'll make tea."
Annie shook her head. "No, blondie. You sit. I'll fix the tea." Five minutes later, they were seated in the living room. Annie looked closely at Alex. She looked tired, and a little anxious, but all things considered, she was okay, Annie concluded. "It was bad, huh?"
Alex nodded, her throat constricting. "Yeah." She didn't want to go into it. She didn't want to remember. "She's sleeping now. It was always going to happen. She takes so much onto herself. And she has taken care of me so beautifully."
"Because she loves you," Annie said, simply.
Alex nodded. "So," she wanted to change the subject. And she genuinely wanted to hear about what had put the smile on Annie's face. "Casey."
"Casey," Annie smiled. "Yep. Casey."
"Don't tell me she's cured the legendary Bartlett wandering eye?" Alex teased.
"It's too soon to make an exact diagnosis," Annie laughed. She thought back over the past few days, and her heart filled with joy. "She's amazing, though," she said. "I only wish she lived in Chicago."
Alex smiled. "You'll find a way around it. Hell, if Liv lived in Timbuktu, we'd work around it. You riding home tomorrow morning?"
"I was going to," Annie had clearly been thinking. "But then I thought … if I leave my bike here, I could fly back to Chicago. And then I wouldn't have to leave until Sunday. There's a flight at 6.30pm."
"And then you can spend the weekend with Casey?"
"Exactly!" Annie grinned.
"Have you forgotten that you're terrified of flying?" Alex reminded her, recalling a weekend break they had taken in Washington, and remembering all too clearly the look of terror in Annie's eyes when they had taken their seats in the airplane.
"Oh it'll be okay," Annie dismissed her.
"How so?" Alex pushed her.
Annie swallowed. She had been trying to put the fear out of her mind. "Maybe it won't be completely okay," she admitted. "But it'll be worth it."
Alex reached out and took her hand. "You've got it bad, A-J," she said, her eyes crinkling with affection. She had always known that Annie's bachelor lifestyle wasn't really satisfying her. She was so pleased that things were going so well with Casey.
"Yeah," Annie grinned, a little bashfully. "What can I say? I've always had a thing for redheads."
"I think I'll stick to brunettes myself," Alex laughed.
"Looks to me like you got a good one," Annie agreed. "Olivia's a stunner."
"A pretty crumpled stunner," Olivia's voice was weak, but clear.
For a woman starting her ninth month of pregnancy, Alex made it to her feet in record time. She was by Olivia's side in seconds. "Hey," she said quietly, touching her cheek. "What are you doing out of bed?"
"Didn't want to miss out on the fun," Olivia tried to smile, but wavered on her feet.
Alex led her to the couch, keeping a tight hold. Olivia looked awful; her skin was grey and her eyes were still clouded. But she wanted to join them, and Alex was not going to stop her. Alex went to their bedroom, reappearing a moment later with Olivia's robe, which she wrapped tenderly around her. "I'm just going to change the linen on our bed," she said. "So we've got nice fresh sheets for later."
Annie stood. "No you don't, blondie. You sit there with your beautiful girlfriend, I'll do that. No," she held up a hand. "You are neither of you in a condition to fight with me. Just tell me where to get fresh linens." She smiled as Alex indicated the closet.
Alex sat on the end of the couch, and coaxed Olivia to lie down in what was left of her lap now that the baby had grown so big. Olivia grunted gratefully. She was tired and shaky, and her head still pounded but, thankfully, not with the sickening intensity of before. She felt Alex's hand in her hair. "'m'sorry," she said, thickly.
"For what, baby?" Alex was confused.
"I should be taking care of you. Not the other way around," Olivia said.
Alex stroked her cheek. "When are you going to learn?" she said softly. "We take care of each other. It's what we do."
Olivia turned and buried her face in Alex's front, her hand on her large belly. "I love you," her voice slurred as sleep caught up with her again.
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When Annie returned from the bedroom, she saw that both Olivia and Alex were asleep in each other's arms. She smiled. Hurriedly, she scribbled a note.
I'll see you both next weekend. I'm so pleased to have met you Olivia. I'm just gonna go ravish Casey now. AB xxx
Alex awoke an hour later, her neck stiff. She realized that Olivia was awake in her lap. "Hey, baby," she whispered.
Olivia levered herself into a sitting position. She kissed Alex very softly on the lips.
"How do you feel?" Alex wanted to know.
"Good," Olivia was surprised to realize that that was, relatively, true. Her headache had receded further.
"Annie brought some soup. Do you think you could manage some?"
"Yeah," Olivia pondered. "I think that would be good."
Alex made her way to the kitchen, laughing when she saw Annie's note. Ten minutes later, she returned with a bowl of soup and a cheese salad sandwich on a tray for Olivia.
Olivia gave her a shaky smile. "I hope you know how much I love you," she said.
Alex set down the tray, and cupped Olivia's cheek. "Yeah. I think I know. And I hope you know that you mean everything to me."
She saw Olivia nod and smile. She sat next to Olivia. "We're gonna be okay, Liv. It's all gonna be okay."
Olivia squeezed her hand.
